Panama Canal Authority Denies U.S. Claim on Crossing Fees Amid Trump’s Threat
The Panama Canal Authority on Wednesday rejected the U.S. State Department’s claim that U.S. government vessels would be exempt from crossing fees, a statement that is expected to escalate tensions following President Donald Trump’s threat to reclaim control of the vital waterway.
The canal authority, an autonomous agency under the Panamanian government, clarified in a statement that no changes had been made to the fees or rights associated with crossing the canal, directly addressing the U.S. assertions.
Earlier in the day, the U.S. State Department had stated that Panama’s government had agreed to waive crossing fees for U.S. government vessels, potentially saving the U.S. millions of dollars annually. In response, the Panama Canal Authority emphasized its willingness to engage in dialogue with U.S. officials regarding the transit of wartime vessels.
Panama has become a focal point of tensions under Trump’s administration, with the president accusing the country of imposing excessive fees for canal use.
Trump’s administration has raised concerns over the canal’s control, even threatening to demand its return if Panama fails to uphold the “moral and legal principles” surrounding the waterway. The U.S. president has also repeatedly claimed that Panama has transferred control of the canal to China, a claim both Panama and China have denied.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently visited Panama, where President Jose Raul Mulino vowed to pull the country out of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Despite Trump’s threats, Mulino has firmly dismissed the idea of the U.S. retaking control of the canal, which was handed over to Panama in 1999 following the 1977 accords.
