ANI PANAMA CITY

Following the United States' announcement that Panama had agreed to waive fees for the US government vessels transiting the Panama Canal, the Panama Canal Authority issued a statement clarifying that no adjustments had been made to the existing tolls or rights for canal transit.

The authority emphasized its readiness to engage in dialogue with US officials concerning the transit of US warships. In a statement posted on X, the authority said, "In response to a publication released by the United States Department of State, the Panama Canal Authority, empowered to set tolls and other rights for transiting the Canal, communicates that it has not made any adjustments to them.

"With absolute responsibility, the Panama Canal Authority, as it has indicated, is ready to establish a dialogue with the relevant officials of the United States regarding the transit of warships from that country," the statement added.

This comes after the US State Department announced that Panama has agreed to eliminate fees for US government vessels transiting the Panama Canal. It further said the decision will save the US government millions of dollars each year. Sharing a post on X, the US State Department wrote, "US government vessels can now transit the Panama Canal without charge fees, saving the US government millions of dollars a year." US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had arrived in Panama on February 1, marking his first trip since holding the job as US top diplomat.