Panama City: The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has clarified that it has not implemented any changes to charges or transit rights for vessels crossing the canal, following a statement from the U.S. State Department suggesting otherwise.
In a statement issued late Wednesday, the ACP reaffirmed its stance, stating that all vessels, including those of the U.S. government, remain subject to the existing fee structure.
The clarification comes after the U.S. State Department indicated that U.S. wartime vessels could pass through the canal without incurring transit fees.
"With total responsibility, the Panama Canal Authority, as it has indicated, is willing to establish dialogue with relevant U.S. officials regarding the transit of wartime vessels from said country," the authority stated.
The ACP has reiterated its openness to discussions with U.S. officials while maintaining that any changes to transit policies must align with the canal’s established guidelines.
