icon bookmark-bicon bookmarkicon cameraicon checkicon chevron downicon chevron lefticon chevron righticon chevron upicon closeicon v-compressicon downloadicon editicon v-expandicon fbicon fileicon filtericon flag ruicon full chevron downicon full chevron lefticon full chevron righticon full chevron upicon gpicon insicon mailicon moveicon-musicicon mutedicon nomutedicon okicon v-pauseicon v-playicon searchicon shareicon sign inicon sign upicon stepbackicon stepforicon swipe downicon tagicon tagsicon tgicon trashicon twicon vkicon yticon wticon fm
10 Jan, 2025 12:51

Panama Canal chief responds to Trump’s demands

Granting special treatment to American ships would violate international law, Ricaurte Vasquez Morales told the Wall Street Journal
Panama Canal chief responds to Trump’s demands

Meeting US President-elect Donald Trump’s demand for American ships passing through the Panama Canal to get preferential treatment would “lead to chaos,” the head of the authority running the waterway has told the Wall Street Journal. 

Trump recently claimed that the US is “being ripped off at the Panama Canal,” questioning the fees charged for American vessels and alleging Chinese influence in its operations. The president-elect suggested that Washington will seek to regain control over the waterway, even refusing to rule out using military action to take it. 

“Rules are rules, and there are no exceptions,” said Ricaurte Vasquez Morales, CEO of the Panama Canal Authority (ACP), an autonomous government agency. 

“We cannot discriminate for the Chinese, or the Americans, or anyone else. This will violate the neutrality treaty, international law and it will lead to chaos,” Vasquez Morales said in an interview with the WSJ.

Vasquez Morales also refuted Trump’s assertions that China is “running the Canal” as “unfounded.” 

“China has no involvement whatsoever in our operations,” he said.

The Panama Canal, a crucial route for global shipping, handles about 6% of worldwide trade. Built by the US in the early 20th century, the canal was transferred to Panama under the Torrijos-Carter Treaties, signed in 1977.

A Chinese company, Hutchison Whampoa (now CK Hutchison Holdings), has been operating two ports near either end of the canal since the late 1990s. The ports are distinct from the canal itself, which is managed by the ACP.

The ACP adheres to strict neutrality agreements ensuring equal access to vessels of all nations.

Panama’s president, Jose Raul Mulino, recently reaffirmed the nation’s sovereignty over the canal in response to Trump’s remarks.

“Every square meter of the Panama Canal and its adjacent areas belongs to Panama and will continue belonging to Panama,” Mulino said in a video posted on X late last month.

He added that the tariffs are not set “on a whim,” but rather reflect Panama’s efforts to accommodate increased ship traffic.

Dear readers! Thank you for your vibrant engagement with our content and for sharing your points of view. Please note that we have switched to a new commenting system. To leave comments, you will need to register. We are working on some adjustments so if you have questions or suggestions feel free to send them to feedback@rttv.ru. Please check our commenting policy. Happy holidays to you all! Question More
Podcasts
0:00
24:56
0:00
14:16