The US said that their ships will not pay tolls to travel the Panama Canal: the interoceanic route authority denied it
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) He denied Wednesday that he has exempted the ships of the United States Government of the payment of rates to travel the interoceanic route, after the US State Department Affirm the opposite in a statement published in the social network X.
“In attention to publication released by the United States Department of State, the Panama Canal Authority, empowered to set tolls and other rights to travel the channel, communicates that it has not made any adjustment to them”the ACP said in a statement.
The announcement came after the US Department of State “The Panama government has agreed not to charge more rates to the ships of the United States government that transit the Panama Canal, which allows it to save millions of dollars a year”.
Washington’s message generated A strong debate in Panama on the possible affectation to neutrality and sovereignty of the interoceanic pathway.
This same Wednesday, the Pentagon He informed that the US Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegsethhe talked with Panama Public Security Minister, Frank Abregoabout the US interest in “Ensure access without restrictions” to the channel and “Keep it free of foreign interference”.
This conversation occurred in a context of growing tension between the two countries, after the US president, Donald Trumpexpress your intention to “recover” channel control, arguing the influence of China in the Panamanian administration.
In response to these pressures, the Panama Government decided Do not renew the cooperation agreement with China On the initiative of the New Silk Routeas well as adopt other measures that seek to reduce their relationship with the Asian giant.
Despite the refusal of the ACP on changes in tolls, the entity acknowledged that he had discussed with the Secretary of State, Marco Rubiothe possibility of “Optimize the priority in the transit of your ships” Through the channel.
“The Panama Canal Authority told the Rubio Secretary his willingness to work with the Navy of that country to optimize the priority in the transit of his ships through the channel”the entity detailed in a previous statement, after Rubio’s visit to the interoceanic route.
During his tour, the American diplomat held a meeting with the channel administrator, Ricaurte Vásquezin which issues related to the transit of US military vessels were addressed.
The channel, operated by the Panama Canal Authority (ACP)is a key infrastructure for world trade and source of income for the Central American country.
The United States maintained road control until December 31, 1999, when it was transferred to Panama in compliance with the Torrijos-Carter treaties Signed in 1977. Since then, the channel has worked under Panamanian administration, with rates established by the ACP for all ships that travel it.
According to data provided by the Panama Canal, since 1998 at the end of fiscal year 2024 (26 years), of a total of 373,039 ships who traveled the channel, 994 (0.3%) correspond to transits of warships and submarines of the United States Navy.
During this period, the ACP has raised 25.4 million dollars in tolls for the passage of these ships, which is equivalent to less than one million dollars annually.
From the inauguration of the channel in 1914tolls for war ships, including those of the United States, have been calculated based on Tons of maximum water displacementa structure other than that used for commercial ships.
(With information from EFE and AFP)
