Panama rebuffs U.S. Claims on warship toll exemptions
The Panama Canal Authority has denied reports from the U.S. Department of State suggesting that American ships would be exempt from tolls. The "Wall Street Journal" reports that Panama has only agreed to explore the possibility of such a move.
The Panama Canal Authority has firmly denied claims from the U.S. Department of State that it consented to waiving tolls for American warships passing through the canal. According to the "Wall Street Journal," the announcement from Washington caught Panamanian authorities by surprise, who had merely agreed to consider the possibility.
"In response to a publication issued by the US Department of State, the Panama Canal Authority, which is authorized to set tolls and other fees for transiting the Canal, announces that it has not made any adjustments to these fees," the Panamanian agency managing the canal stated in a release. It added that it "is willing to establish a dialogue with the pertinent officials of the United States with respect to the transit of US warships."
Panama's surprise
This statement was a response to the announcement on Wednesday from the Department of State, which claimed that American ships would be able to pass through the canal free of charge, reportedly saving "millions of dollars." This announcement came three days after a meeting between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Panamanian President Raúl Mulino.
According to the "Wall Street Journal," Panama has only agreed to explore the possibility of waiving tolls for U.S. ships, underscoring that this requires legal analysis. Such a measure must not breach the canal's neutrality principle and the equal treatment of all countries, as stipulated in the 1977 treaty with the U.S.
Technical limitations
The journal notes that large American warships are unable to pass through the narrow canal, and smaller vessels use it infrequently, about 40 times a year, which constitutes just 0.5% of all vessels passing through. The Pentagon estimates that an exemption from fees would save only about €12.5 million (rounded from $13 million).
The issue of tolls was one of the points raised by Donald Trump against Panama, asserting that American crews pay more than others. The Panama Canal Authority has rejected these accusations, warning that a preferential tariff for the U.S. could cause "chaos."
