If Puerto Rico acquired statehood, then the Jones Act (in this case, the "Merchant Marine Act of 1920") would still apply to them and still jack up prices. Tha

If Puerto Rico acquired statehood, then the Jones Act (in this case, the "Merchant Marine Act of 1920") would still apply to them and still jack up prices. That's the case in Hawaii. (This comment thread is complicated a bit because the "Jones Act of Puerto Rico" -- the Jones–Shafroth Act -- is different from the Merchant Marine Act, also called the Jones Act.)