In last week's Wall Street Journal, we called for reforming protectionist laws to improve the flailing US maritime industry. In particular, we proposed that the federal government allow American firms to purchase oceangoing ships from allied shipyards for use in domestic commerce--something currently prohibited by the 1920 Jones Act--and scrap a 50 percent duty on commercial vessel repairs performed overseas. These reforms, we argued, would help to "generate an influx of new ships, boost US mariner employment, motivate US shipbuilders to innovate, and increase US supply- chain efficiency." Given the Journal's national exposure, we weren't surprised to see it elicit a response from allies of the special interests profiting from the protectionist status quo. Slightly more surprising, however, is the utter vacuity of their arguments.
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