The Panama Canal Authority has strongly denied claims made by the US State Department that US government vessels would be allowed to cross the canal without paying the customary fees. The US State Department had suggested that such an arrangement could be made in certain circumstances, but the Panama Canal Authority refuted the idea, asserting that all vessels, regardless of their origin, are subject to the established fee structure.
This denial has sparked diplomatic tension between the two nations, as the US government’s request was seen as an attempt to secure preferential treatment. The Panama Canal Authority reiterated its commitment to fair and equal access to the canal for all international shipping, regardless of nationality.
The dispute comes as both countries continue to navigate complex relations, with the future of canal usage and the role of US vessels in international trade remaining a point of contention.