Panama Canal Chief Warns of Potential Disorder from Proposed US Ship Rate Preferences
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Panama City, Jan 9 (NationPress) US President-elect Donald Trump's proposal that US ships receive preferential rates 'will breach the neutrality treaty, international law, and it could create disorder,' asserted Panama Canal Administrator Ricaurte Vasquez Morales.
In a discussion with the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday, he remarked, 'Rules are rules and there are no exceptions ... We cannot discriminate against the Chinese, or the Americans, or anyone else.'
The administrator, who has overseen the canal authority since 2019, refuted claims that it imposes higher charges on US vessels.
The average tolls are about 750,000 U.S. dollars per crossing, although they can vary from 300,000 to 1 million dollars, he explained to the Wall Street Journal, emphasizing that 'they apply to all ships globally and there are no exceptions.'
In reaction to Trump's assertions, the administrator stated, 'the allegations that China is managing the Canal are baseless ... China has no involvement whatsoever in our operations', as reported by Xinhua news agency.
Since his electoral success in November last year, Trump has consistently brought up the notion of controlling the Panama Canal—a crucial shipping channel constructed through Panama—and acquiring Greenland, an autonomous region of Denmark.
During a press conference on Tuesday—the first since Trump's election victory was officially ratified by the US Congress—Trump did not dismiss the possibility of military or economic actions, underscoring that US control over both was essential for national security.
