Economy News _ Follow-up
Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino has unequivocally rejected assertions from the US State Department that Panama has consented to allow US warships to transit the Panama Canal without charge.
Mulino clarified that he and his administration lack the authority to waive the transit fees for the canal.
He noted that in a recent discussion, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin mentioned he could not specify the transit costs or exempt any charges, expressing surprise at the US State Department’s statement issued later that evening (Panama time).
“I completely reject that statement issued yesterday,” Mulino stated during his weekly press conference.
He highlighted that he communicated with Secretary Austin via telephone on Wednesday afternoon, during which he reiterated that his government does not hold the authority to absolve canal fees, which are established by the Panama Canal Authority.
The President asserted that he instructed Panama’s ambassador in Washington to formally refute the claims made by the US State Department.
According to the US State Department’s social media post, the Panamanian government purportedly “agreed not to impose fees on US government ships transiting the Panama Canal, providing millions of dollars annually to the US government.”
In response, the Panama Canal Authority also posted on social media, stating that it “has not made any changes to the transit fees,” while emphasizing its willingness to engage in discussions with the United States regarding the passage of American warships.
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