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.
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.
