As Indiana’s 43rd Attorney General, I focused on protecting Hoosiers from threats to their safety and prosperity, whether from domestic crime or foreign economic incursion. Thus, I have been troubled by recent assertions in some academic and policy circles that President Trump’s tariffs and the Jones Act are burdening Hawaii’s residents with high costs for essentials like groceries and fuel.
Some have argued that Hawaii’s geographic isolation and reliance on imports justify loosening federal trade protections to allow the Aloha State unfettered access to foreign goods. This perspective, however, misdiagnoses the problem and overlooks a critical truth: Hawaii’s dependence on imports from adversaries like China and Russia poses a grave and ever-present danger to our national security. Far from harming the island paradise, the Jones Act and tariffs are essential tools to safeguard America’s strategic interests in the Pacific and elsewhere.
Consider Hawaii’s import heavy economy. Over half its oil comes from nations like Russia and Libya and over $206 million in consumer goods, machinery, and electronics are sourced from China annually. As such, some have suggested that Hawaii’s proximity to Pacific trading partners should allow it to bypass the Jones Act and tariffs in favor of cheaper, direct imports. However this argument, while appealing to short-term cost concerns, ignores the long-term national security and geopolitical risks of relying on foreign powers for critical supplies.
While President Trump has pressed our European allies to reduce their dependence on Russian energy to counter Moscow’s geopolitical leverage, Hawaii, hypocritically continues to rely on Russian oil. This is not a sustainable strategy for a state so vital to America’s Pacific defense network.
A disruption—whether from a natural disaster or Kremlin maneuvering—could cripple Hawaii’s energy supply, nearly overnight, leaving it entirely dependent on the U.S. military for emergency relief. The Jones Act mitigates this risk by ensuring a robust domestic maritime fleet, with 40,000 vessels ready to support military and civilian needs in a crisis. Without it, foreign ships—potentially from hostile nations—could dominate our supply lines, compromising both Hawaii’s lifeline and America’s security.
Similarly, the $206 million in Chinese imports raises alarms. From telecommunications equipment to consumer electronics, Chinese goods often carry risks of espionage and intellectual property theft, as evidenced by incidents involving Huawei and data-harvesting apps. American manufacturers, from the industrial heartland to the tech hubs of the mainland, can provide these goods without the security liabilities.
The Trump administration’s 10 percent baseline and up to 145 percent on Chinese goods have been criticized for further squeezing Hawaiian consumers, but tariffs incentivize this shift, reducing our reliance on a regime that views the U.S. as a strategic rival at best. Hawaii’s own role in its cost-of-living crisis has also been completely sidestepped in recent discussions. The state’s General Excise Tax, for example, applied to nearly all goods and services, creates the nation’s highest tax burden. Blaming federal trade policy for sticker shock is misleading and is like faulting the lifeguard for a riptide you swam into.
The Jones Act is not a relic without a current purpose; it is a cornerstone of national defense. It sustains a domestic maritime industry that employs 650,000 Americans and generates $150 billion in economic impactannually. Repealing it would force taxpayers to fund a $65 billion Navy cargo fleet, plus billions more in yearly maintenance, to replace the civilian capacity it provides.
Meanwhile, China’s $130 billion investment in its own shipping industry—producing 85 percent of global containers—underscores the strategic stakes. Allowing foreign vessels, particularly from adversarial nations, to ply America’s waterways risks both certain espionage and supply chain sabotage, especially along our 12,000 miles of inland rivers.
Hawaii is not a mere outpost in paradise but a critical Pacific hub, home to Pearl Harbor and vital military assets. In return for the protection that the U.S. military provides it is only fair to ask that the Aloha state adhere to policies that prioritize America’s national security over short-term savings. The Jones Act and tariffs responsibly shield our supply chains from foreign control, ensuring that in times of war or crisis, America relies on American ships, crews, and goods.
Congress must reject any calls to weaken these protections and instead strengthen them, recognizing Hawaii’s unique strategic role. Our nation’s safety depends on it, from the shores of Waikiki to the heartland of Indiana.
Curtis Hill served as Indiana’s 43rd Attorney General from 2017 to 2021, advocating for policies that protect American sovereignty and economic security.
