Panama denies US claim government vessels can transit canal for free

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Craig Nigrelli Anchor

By Craig Nigrelli (Anchor), Brock Koller (Senior Producer), Shea Taylor (Producer), Kaleb Gillespie (Video Editor)

The U.S. State Department announced that American ships could sail through the Panama Canal for free. Hours later, Panama denied the claim, saying it was not true.

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In a post on Wednesday, Feb. 5, the State Department said Secretary Marco Rubio had agreed with Panamanian leadership to allow the move, saving the federal government millions of dollars annually.

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Rubio had visited the Central American country earlier this week.

U.S. government vessels can now transit the Panama Canal without charge fees, saving the U.S. government millions of dollars a year. pic.twitter.com/G4gV2mHu7O
— Department of State (@StateDept) February 6, 2025

The Panama Canal Authority said it sets the tolls and other fees for crossing the canal and “has not made any adjustments to them.” The authority added that it is open to dialogue with the U.S.

Before taking office, Trump demanded that Panamanian authorities either lower fees for American ships using the Panama Canal or return its control to the U.S.

Tags: Marco Rubio, Panama, Panama Canal, State Department

[craig nigrelli]

HOURS AFTER THE STATE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED THAT AMERICAN SHIPS WOULD BE ALLOWED TO SAIL THRU THE PANAMA CANAL FOR FREE — PANAMA SAID THAT’S NOT TRUE.

IN A POST ON X YESTERDAY — THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAID SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO MADE AN AGREEMENT WITH PANAMANIAN LEADERSHIP ALLOWING THE MOVE, WHICH WOULD SAVE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS A YEAR. RUBIO HAD VISITED PANAMA THIS WEEK.

IN A STATEMENT OF ITS OWN, THE PANAMA CANAL AUTHORITY SAID **IT** SETS THE TOLLS AND OTHER FEES FOR CROSSING THE CANAL AND IT QUOTE “HAS NOT MADE ANY ADJUSTMENTS TO THEM.”

THE AUTHORITY DID ADD IT IS OPEN TO DIALOGUE WITH THE U-S.

BEFORE TAKING OFFICE, PRESIDENT TRUMP DEMANDED PANAMANIAN AUTHORITIES EITHER LOWER FEES FOR AMERICAN SHIPS THAT USE THE PANAMA CANAL — OR RETURN ITS CONTROL TO THE UNITED STATES.