The head of the Panama Canal denied on Friday any interference by China in the operations of the interoceanic waterway and considered that opening a process of exceptions and preferences regarding operations could trigger major problems. It would be like “opening a Pandora’s box,” he said.
Ricaurte Vásquez’s statements in an interview with the Associated Press in his office come after several comments from Trump, who accused Panama of charging “exorbitant” tariffs on US and US vessels. threats to regain control of infrastructure “quickly and without question” if these were not reduced.
“None. In that we have to be categorical,” said the Canal leader about the accusation of Chinese interference in the control of the canal.
A Chinese consortium operates the ports of Balboa and Cristóbal at the entrances to the highway, but Vásquez explained that these were awarded to a company based in Hong Kong in 1997, when the highway had not been transferred to Panama, after a process of tender.
“The best offer, according to the records, was the winner,” he said, clarifying that they are not the only roadside operators, as there are also companies from other countries, such as the United States and Taiwan, in charge of other ports.
Regarding the possibility of granting some type of preferences to American ships, or how Trump has questioned whether more tolls are being charged to the United States, he pointed out that the Neutrality Treaty to which 40 nations, including the United States, have adhered, establishes that All ships must pass through the canal under the same rules.
“There is no discrimination in tolls. The pricing rules are uniform for everyone who transits the channel absolutely and clearly defined,” he emphasized.
He ruled out any attempt to make exceptions because it could create problems in the transit allocation process. Additionally, he noted that requests for exceptions are commonly rejected.
Vásquez recalled that the road is open to traffic from all nations and that the only restrictions are for health or safety reasons, as occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.
70% of the maritime traffic that crosses the Panama Canal leaves or goes to ports in the United States.
Regarding toll rates, the administrator explained that the canal has implemented an adjustment program that culminated with the increase in tolls in January 2025. He indicated that any future modification to tolls will be reviewed this year, in the first semester, to guarantee long-term “price certainty” for customers.
In addition, these changes would be subject to a public hearing, a process that dates back to the time of the Canal Commission – the entity that operated the route under US control – which is open to the participation of governments, shipping companies and citizens.
“The transfer of the assets of the Panama Canal was done without costs for the American taxpayer and without debts for the government of Panama,” said Vásquez. “Over 21 years of transfers, the necessary amortizations were made to compensate the United States. for their investment in the channel.”
The Canal is an artificial waterway that uses a series of locks and reservoirs over 82 kilometers (51 miles) to cross the center of the Central American isthmus and connect the Atlantic and the Pacific. It saves ships from having to sail more than 11,000 kilometers (about 7,000 miles) extra to go around Cape Horn at the southern tip of South America.
For example, the route of a ship from Houston on the Atlantic to the Chilean port of Antofagasta on the Pacific could take 28 days, but can be reduced to 11 days if it uses the Panama Canal.
At the beginning of this week, Trump did not rule out the possibility of using economic or military measures to take control of the interoceanic waterway, arguing security reasons for his country.
“Strictly speaking, there is no basis for such an aspiration. That’s the only thing I can say,” said Vásquez.
The Panamanian government has also rejected Trump’s threats. “The Panama Canal is Panamanian and will continue to be that way,” said Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino recently.
The president recalled that the administration of the interoceanic waterway has been the exclusive responsibility of Panama since its transfer on December 31, 1999, according to the Torrijos-Carter treaties of 1977.
“It is an enormous responsibility,” said the administrator about why it is important for the Central American country to operate the road. “Take the case of COVID when it arrived, the channel took all the necessary safeguards to protect its workforce but keeping the channel open because the international commitment is to keep it open.”
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