The Panama Canal Authority said there had been no changes made to the fees it imposes on vessel sailing through the canal. This contradicts an earlier statement from the US State Department, which said the deal struck with Panama would save it millions of dollars a year.
The Panama Canal Authority denied on Wednesday, February 5, that it had exempted US government vessels from tolls, as the State Department had earlier claimed.
"The Panama Canal Authority, which has the power to set tolls and other fees for crossing the canal, announces that it has not made any adjustments to these fees," said the autonomous entity that administers the interoceanic waterway.
The United States earlier claimed that its government vessels would be allowed to sail for free through the Panama Canal, following heavy pressure from President Donald Trump.
"US government vessels can now transit the Panama Canal without charge fees, saving the US government millions of dollars a year," the State Department said in a post on social media platform X.
It was the first public announcement of promises hinted at by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said that Panama offered concessions during his talks on Sunday.
Rubio said he had told Panama that it was unfair for the United States to be in a position to defend the vital waterway and also to be charged for its use.
Since winning the November US election, Trump has refused to rule out the use of force to seize the canal, through which 40 percent of US container traffic passes.
The United States and Panama are scheduled to hold new talks on Friday to discuss the canal.
