Panama Says the U.S. Totally Made Up Supposed New Canal Deal
The Panamanian government swiftly shut down a claim by the U.S. State Department that American government ships would no longer have to pay fees to transit the Panama Canal, CNN reports. In a statement, Panama’s canal authority made it clear that it had not made any adjustments to tolls, directly contradicting Washington’s announcement that the policy change would save the U.S. “millions of dollars a year.” Since 1999, the U.S. has paid a total of $25.4 million in transit fees—less than $1 million annually, Panama says. The dust-up comes as tensions simmer over President Donald Trump’s recent vow to “take back” the canal, citing Chinese influence. While Panama’s President Raúl Mulino told U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Panama’s sovereignty over the canal was non-negotiable, he also signaled a distancing from China by announcing that Panama will quit Beijing’s Belt and Road project. The canal, returned to Panama under a treaty signed in 1977, remains independently operated, despite conspiracy-laden rhetoric about China’s control over it.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/panama-says-the-us-totally-made-up-supposed-new-canal-deal/
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