Trump Temporarily Waives U.S. Shipping Law to Stabilize Oil Market
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Mar 18 2026
0mins
Should l Buy CVX?
Source: CNBC
- Shipping Law Waiver: President Trump announced a 60-day waiver of the Jones Act to stabilize the oil market amid the Iran war, allowing vital resources like oil and natural gas to flow freely to U.S. ports, thereby alleviating supply chain pressures.
- Market Reaction: Following the waiver announcement, Brent crude prices surged over 6% to exceed $109 per barrel, while U.S. oil prices rose 2.95% to $99.05 per barrel, indicating a positive market response to the stabilization of supply chains.
- Policy Background: The Jones Act, enacted in 1920, mandates that goods transported between U.S. ports must be carried by U.S. vessels; this waiver challenges the protectionist nature of the law, reflecting economists' criticisms that it hinders domestic trade.
- Supply Chain Commitment: The White House press secretary stated that the Trump administration is committed to strengthening critical supply chains, indicating a desire to ensure energy supply stability amid attacks on global energy infrastructure.
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Analyst Views on CVX
Wall Street analysts forecast CVX stock price to fall
19 Analyst Rating
15 Buy
4 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 190.360
Low
158.00
Averages
176.95
High
206.00
Current: 190.360
Low
158.00
Averages
176.95
High
206.00
About CVX
Chevron Corporation is an integrated energy company. The Company produces crude oil and natural gas; manufactures transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and additives; and develops technologies that enhance its business and industry. The Company’s segments include Upstream and Downstream. Upstream operations consist primarily of exploring for, developing, producing and transporting crude oil and natural gas; liquefaction, transportation and regasification associated with LNG; transporting crude oil by major international oil export pipelines; processing, transporting, storage and marketing of natural gas; carbon capture and storage; and a gas-to-liquids plant. Downstream operations consist primarily of the refining of crude oil into petroleum products; marketing crude oil, refined products, and lubricants; manufacturing and marketing of renewable fuels, and transporting of crude oil and refined products by pipeline, marine vessel, motor equipment and rail car.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- Production Decline Reasons: Chevron (CVX) disclosed in its latest 8-K filing that Q1 production is expected to fall by 6%, averaging 3.8M-3.9M boe/day, primarily due to the Middle East conflict and downtime at Kazakhstan's Tengizchevroil project, a decrease from 4.05M boe/day in Q4 2025.
- Financial Impact Estimates: The company anticipates that timing effects related to hedging and accounting will reduce Q1 earnings and operating cash flow by $2.7B-$3.7B (after tax), mainly affecting downstream operations, although this negative impact is expected to reverse in subsequent quarters.
- Rising Oil and Gas Price Expectations: Despite the production decline, Chevron expects surging oil and gas prices to boost quarterly earnings from its upstream segment by $1.6B-$2.2B, contingent on oil prices ranging between $130 and $140, which would positively influence the company's overall financial performance.
- Market Response and Strategy: Chevron's production and financial outlook mirrors that of ExxonMobil, highlighting common challenges faced across the industry, while proposals for windfall taxes on energy firms may impact future investment decisions, necessitating Chevron to adjust its strategy to maintain competitiveness.
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- Oil Discovery: Chevron, in partnership with Occidental, confirms an oil discovery at the Bandit prospect in the Gulf of America, located approximately 125 miles south of the Louisiana coast, indicating the area's rich potential resources.
- Collaborative Development: The Bandit field is operated by Occidental, with Chevron holding a 37.125% working interest, and it is expected that subsea tie-backs to adjacent facilities will enhance development efficiency, thereby accelerating the commercialization of resources.
- Strategic Importance: This discovery showcases Chevron's expertise in deepwater oil and gas exploration, further solidifying its leading position in the Gulf of America and providing data support for future investment decisions.
- Investment Outlook: Chevron's exploration strategy emphasizes high-impact project investments supported by infrastructure, and the Bandit discovery is set to enhance the company's competitiveness in the global energy market, especially against the backdrop of evolving energy demands.
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- Increased Focus on Energy Security: Ongoing instability in the Middle East has intensified concerns about the resilience of global energy supply networks, with the Strait of Hormuz responsible for approximately 20% of global oil consumption, prompting policymakers in North America and Europe to emphasize the importance of diversifying energy sources to reduce reliance on vulnerable transit routes.
- Significant Exploration Potential: Greenland Energy Company's primary asset in the Jameson Land Basin is estimated to contain up to 13 billion barrels of oil, which, if successfully developed, could rank among the most significant oil discoveries globally, profoundly impacting regional and global energy markets.
- Strategic Partnerships Enhance Capability: The company has secured drilling capacity through strategic agreements and plans to acquire rights to approximately 70% of the Jameson Land Basin, covering around two million acres, significantly increasing its exposure to the resource base and providing crucial support for future development.
- Experienced Leadership Team: The appointment of Joe Moglia, with his background in financial markets and corporate governance, will provide valuable guidance for the company’s capital market engagement and regulatory oversight, ensuring effective advancement of exploration projects in a complex financial and regulatory environment.
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- Increased Focus on Energy Security: Ongoing instability in the Middle East has intensified concerns over the resilience of global energy supply networks, with the Strait of Hormuz responsible for about 20% of global oil consumption, prompting policymakers to prioritize reducing dependence on vulnerable transit routes and thus advancing energy independence strategies.
- Significant Exploration Potential: Greenland Energy's primary asset in the Jameson Land Basin is estimated to contain up to 13 billion barrels of oil, which, if successfully developed, could significantly impact both regional and global energy markets, positioning it as a crucial future energy supply source.
- Enhanced Capabilities Through Strategic Partnerships: The company has secured drilling capacity through strategic agreements and plans to acquire approximately 70% rights in the Jameson Land Basin, covering about two million acres, which would substantially increase its resource base and potentially create transformative opportunities.
- Experienced Leadership Team: The appointment of Joe Moglia, with his background in capital markets and corporate governance, will provide valuable guidance for the company in navigating exploration and capital strategy, ensuring effective execution of its long-term development strategy in a complex financial and regulatory environment.
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- Oil Discovery: Chevron's exploration well at the Bandit prospect in the Gulf of Mexico has uncovered high-quality Miocene sands containing full-to-base oil, indicating significant potential resources that could yield substantial returns for the company.
- Collaborative Development: Operated by Occidental Petroleum, with Chevron holding a 37.125% stake, the project is expected to enhance extraction efficiency through subsea tie-backs to existing infrastructure, thereby solidifying Chevron's market position in the Gulf.
- Strategic Investment: Chevron's focus on a diversified portfolio is underscored by the Bandit discovery, which reinforces its capabilities in deep-water oil and gas, demonstrating the company's ongoing commitment to high-impact exploration opportunities.
- International Expansion: Chevron has signed lease agreements with HELLENiQ ENERGY for exploration in four offshore blocks in Greece, further extending its international operations and highlighting the strategic importance of the company in global energy security.
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- Oil Price Fluctuations: Iran's attack on Saudi Arabia's Red Sea pipeline has cut throughput by 700,000 barrels per day, causing oil prices to hover below $100 per barrel, which exacerbates uncertainty in global markets.
- Ceasefire Negotiations Tension: U.S. and Iranian negotiators are set to meet in Pakistan, and despite heated rhetoric, there remains a willingness to maintain the ceasefire, which could impact future energy supply and price stability.
- Global Economic Impact: China's factory-gate prices have risen for the first time in over three years, indicating the war's disruption of global energy markets, potentially leading to increased inflationary pressures for the Federal Reserve.
- Political Landscape Attention: The British Prime Minister expressed frustration over energy price volatility, highlighting the influence of international politics on domestic economies, which underscores the far-reaching effects of global political dynamics on markets.
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