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From Axios: U.S. government vessels are now allowed to transit the Panama Canal without being charged fees, the U.S. Department of State announced Wednesday evening.
The big picture: The move comes days after Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Panama, as President Trump pushes to regain control of the canal — one of the world’s most significant pieces of infrastructure.
Driving the news: Trump demanded ahead of taking office that Panamanian authorities either lower fees for U.S. ships to transit the Panama Canal, or return its control to the United States.
The U.S. State Department announced in a post on X, “U.S. government vessels can now transit the Panama Canal without charge fees, saving the U.S. government millions of dollars a year.”
U.S. government vessels can now transit the Panama Canal without charge fees, saving the U.S. government millions of dollars a year. pic.twitter.com/G4gV2mHu7O
— Department of State (@StateDept) February 6, 2025
Many people on social media are responding by asking why the U.S. ever had to pay fees to start with, since “we built the damn thing.”
We built the damn thing, we were being charged? Lol
Thanks Carter.
— Sky (@evo4g63t) February 6, 2025
That’s great, but why were we paying them transit fees in the first place? We built the Panama Canal.
— Elton Alikaj (@eltonalikaj) February 6, 2025
We built the damn thing. Why were we ever being charged ?
— James SagA* (@JamesBr666) February 6, 2025
America shouldn’t pay fees for something they built for the rest of the world to use.
It’s basic economics. Charge other countries.
— Crazy Vibes (@CrazyVibes_1) February 6, 2025
The government of Panama has agreed to finally let us use the canal we built, and then GAVE to them, without fees? About time. Thank you to all involved in making this happen.
— Aaron Johnson (@johnson_aaronr) February 6, 2025
REPORT: Panama will now allow United States Navy ships free passage through the Panama Canal, saving the United States millions of dollars a year.
The development comes after Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s trip to Panama.
“U.S. government vessels can now transit the Panama… pic.twitter.com/jACxs1sK6o
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) February 6, 2025
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