Claim: The U.S. Department of State has alleged that the government of Panama has agreed to no longer charge fees for U.S. government vessels to transit at the Panama Canal.
Verdict: Misleading! Investigations by DUBAWA have revealed that the government of Panama has not changed its fees for U.S. vessels transiting the Panama Canal. The Panama Canal Authority emphasised in a press release on its website that “it has made no adjustments to these fees.”
Full Text
The Panama Canal, a 51-mile maritime shortcut linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, has played a pivotal role in global commerce since the United States completed it in 1914. The waterway remains a driving factor in the trade relationship between the United States and Panama.
The Secretary of State of the United States of America, Marco Rubio, visited the Panama Canal as part of his official trip to the region, which includes Panama, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic.
Following his visit, the U.S. Department of State posted on its official Facebook page on Feb 6, 2025, that:
“The government of Panama has agreed to no longer charge fees for U.S. government vessels to transit the Panama Canal. This saves the U.S. government millions of dollars a year.”
Data on Facebook shows that as of Feb 8, 2025, the post had generated 13426 likes, 3,468 comments, 2799 shares, and 66,000 views.
Several social media users, including E.A. McWashington, shared a similar claim in a Facebook group, The Liberian Influence.
Due to the widespread circulation of this claim, DUBAWA decided to investigate as part of its commitment to combating misinformation and disinformation.
Verification
DUBAWA examined the Panama Canal Authority’s official website to verify whether any adjustments were made to fees for U.S. government vessels.
Findings from the investigation confirm that the Panama Canal Authority has not made any such adjustments. A press release from the Authority explicitly states:
“In response to a publication released by the United States Department of State, the Panama Canal Authority, authorised to set tolls and other charges for transiting the Canal, communicates that it has made no adjustments to these fees.”
The statement further clarifies:
“With absolute responsibility, the Panama Canal Authority, as previously stated, is willing to engage in dialogue with the relevant officials of the United States regarding the transit of military ships from that country.”
DUBAWA also conducted a Google keyword search and discovered that several international media, including the BBC and AP reports, contradict the claim made by the U.S. Department of State and widely circulated on social media.
Conclusion
Based on the information gathered by DUBAWA, the assertion that the Panamanian government has agreed to exempt U.S. government vessels from transit fees at the Panama Canal is misleading. Official statements from the Panama Canal Authority confirm that no such agreement exists, and the fee structure remains unchanged.
