Targeted Jones Act waivers provide critical flexibility to move American energy efficiently between US ports and deliver fuels to consumers at a time of ongoing global market volatility, industry trade group American Petroleum Institute said. While the Jones Act waiver increases the availability of tankers to move fuel, it would likely only reduce petrol prices by pennies per gallon, some analysts and industry experts have said. The American Maritime Partnership, which is in favour of the Jones Act, said it was disappointed that the waiver had been extended but that requiring a case-by-case review is an improvement over the previous blanket waiver. About 208 exemptions to the Jones Act were granted in about 4-1/2 months through Aug 3, US government data showed. Conservative think tank Cato Institute, which has long called for the law to be repealed, said Congress should make changes to the Jones Act, calling temporary, product-specific waivers a band-aid.