Panama Canal Authority Denies Offering Free Transit to U.S. Vessels
Panama Canal. X/ @F4SuperBugfan89
February 6, 2025 Hour: 7:42 am
Previously, the U.S. Department of State stated that Panama agreed to waive fees for U.S. government vessels.
On Wednesday, the Panama Canal Authority denied reports that it would allow U.S. government vessels to transit the canal for free, clarifying that no changes have been made to tolls or fees.
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“In response to a publication issued by the U.S. Department of State, the Panama Canal Authority, which is authorized to set tolls and other fees for transiting the Canal, announces that it has not made any adjustments to these fees,” the agency said in a statement.
“With absolute responsibility, the Panama Canal Authority, as it has indicated, is willing to establish a dialogue with the pertinent officials of the United States with respect to the transit of U.S. warships,” the statement added.
On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of State stated that Panama agreed to waive fees for U.S. government vessels. “U.S. government vessels can now transit the Panama Canal without charge fees, saving the U.S. government millions of dollars a year,” the department said in a post on social media X.
On Sunday, the Panama Canal Authority had already told Marco Rubio that they would work with the US Navy to “optimize the priority in the transit of their ships” through the interoceanic route, although no further details had been given.
“The Panama Canal Authority informed Secretary Rubio of its willingness to work with the navy of that country to optimize the priority in the transit of its ships through the Canal,” the Panama Canal Authority reported then, shortly after the visit of the head of US diplomacy to the route, where he met with administrator Ricaurte Vasquez.
Trump bases his threats on the alleged presence of China in the route that links the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and the “unfair” treatment of US ships. The evidence of official Panamanian information, however, shows that US ships pay the same rates as others, under the neutrality treaty.
From 1998 to 2024, 373,039 vessels transited the canal, 994 of which correspond to transits of U.S. Navy’s warships and submarines. “In this period of time, transit revenues in this concept have totaled US$25.4 million, which is equivalent to less than US$1 million per year,” the Panama Canal Authority said.
teleSUR/ JF Sources: EFE – Xinhua
