The President of Panama, José Raúl Mulino, has described the U.S. government's intention to exempt its ships from the tolls for transiting the Panama Canal as a "falsehood." In response to statements from the U.S. Department of State, the Panama Canal Authority affirmed that it has not made adjustments to transit fees. Responsibly, the Panamanian entity expressed its willingness to engage in dialogue with U.S. authorities on this matter.
"It is an absolute and intolerable falsehood," Mulino stated, expressing Panama's rejection of basing bilateral relations on lies. The Panamanian president criticized the alleged exemption of fees for U.S. vessels navigating the canal, announcing that his country's embassy in Washington would deny the official version.
In an unexpected turn, Mulino announced that he would have a conversation with President Donald Trump to address the situation, following the controversy generated between the two nations. Previously, the Panama Canal Authority had denied the possibility that U.S. warships could navigate the interoceanic route for free, reiterating that tolls and fees had not been modified.
