No exemption from fees after all (for now): The dispute over the Panama Canal initiated by the new US President Donald Trump has gained another chapter.
Initially, the US State Department had said that state-owned US ships would be exempt from fees through the important passage between the Atlantic and Pacific. However, the canal authority ACP denies this.
There is no such adjustment to the fees, according to the ACP on the short message service X. However, this does not mean that no talks are taking place. According to the Central American country’s authorities, they are willing to “engage in a dialog about the passage of warships from this country”.
Previously, the US State Department had announced on the short message service X that state-owned ships from its own country would have their fees waived, which could save the USA millions of dollars.
Ever since Trump spoke around his inauguration about the USA being treated unfairly by Panama, paying too high fees and wanting to take back “control” of the canal, the Panamanian government has been under great pressure. The US accusations that China is actually operating the canal through its massive infrastructure investments (because the Hong Kong-based company Hutchison operates terminals at both ends of the canal) must also be rejected.
Washington recently increased the pressure during a visit by Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Panama. Apparently, this was also about the fees. The politician threatened Panama “with measures from the USA” if the Latin American country did not make immediate changes to the operation of the Panama Canal.
