US President-elect Donald Trump has demanded that the Panama Canal Authority lower fees for the passage of ships through this waterway, otherwise Washington may regain control over this facility.
“The fees charged by Panama are simply ridiculous, especially given the extraordinary generosity of the US to Panama. This “ripping off” of our country will be stopped immediately,” Trump wrote on his Truth social network.
“If the principles, both moral and legal, of this generous gesture of donation are not respected, we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to us in full and without question. Officials of Panama, please follow this!” – said the US president-elect.
He noted that when US President Jimmy Carter “foolishly” gave away the canal, for one dollar, only Panama could manage the canal, not China or anyone else. “Similarly, Panama had no right to set improper prices and volumes of vessel passage for the United States, the Navy, and corporations doing business on American territory,” Trump continued.
He emphasized the need to ensure the reliability of the canal because it plays an important role in the security and economy of the United States, and the United States is the number one user of the canal, with more than 70% of all transit going to or from American ports.
The president-elect also noted that during the construction, which ended 110 years ago, 38,000 Americans have died in the jungle from mosquito-borne infections.
The US Department of Defense began construction of the Panama Canal in 1904. In 1977, President Carter and Panamanian leader Omar Torrijos signed an agreement to hand over management of the canal to Panamanian authorities starting in 2000. The US controlled the channel until December 31, 1999.
The Panamanian administration collects tariffs from vessels and ships depending on their size and purpose of maritime transport.
