Panama’s Administrator of the Panama Canal, Vasquez Morales, has strongly refuted accusations made by President-elect Donald Trump that China manages the Panama Canal and that U.S. ships are subjected to unfair tariffs.
In a statement to The Wall Street Journal, Morales emphasized that China has no involvement in the canal’s operations, asserting that all regulations are applied equally to all nations, including the United States.
Morales explained that any form of discrimination based on nationality, whether against China, the U.S., or any other country, would violate the neutrality treaty, international law, and lead to chaos. He stressed that the neutrality of the canal is non-negotiable.
The average cost for a ship to cross the canal is $750,000, with charges ranging from $300,000 to $1 million depending on the size and type of vessel, but there are no special exemptions for any country, including the U.S.
The official also clarified that Panama is independently financing its canal upgrades, with no financial assistance from the United States. This marks a key moment in addressing concerns over the management and neutrality of one of the world’s most strategically important maritime routes.
