The U.S. State Department announced a new agreement with the Panama administration on Wednesday that would eliminate costs for U.S. government ships.
“The Panama government has agreed not to charge fees for transporting the Panama Canal to U.S. government ships,” the State Department wrote in the X-mail Wednesday night.
Officials pointed out that the new agreement will save the U.S. government millions of dollars a year.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio waved his hand at Panama Foreign Secretary Javier Martinez-Acha on Sunday, February 2. （AP/Mark Schiefelbein）
China’s impact on the Panama Canal’s acute risks to U.S. national security.
Panama President José Raúl Mulino promises end keys on Sunday Development Agreement with China After meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
During the visit, former Florida Senator Rubio wrote in an article on X: “The United States cannot and will not allow the Chinese Communist Party to continue its effective and increasing control over the Panama Canal region.”
President Donald Trump publicly criticized the six-figure premium imposed on U.S. ships, suggesting a buyback of the canal.
Two cargo ships entered the Miraflores lock in the Panama city of Panama on January 22. (Martin Bernetti/AFP via Getty Images)
‘Retrieve It’: Internal Republican Memorandum Outlines Trump’s Case to the Panama Canal
It was built in the United States for decades, but was later handed over to Panama during the Carter administration.
The newly proposed bill called the Panama Canal Buyback Act will give Trump and Rubio the power to negotiate with Panama to buy back the canal.
Archives – President Jimmy Carter spoke with his wife Rosalynn when he arrived in Panama City on June 16, 1978 when he signed the Panama Canal Treaty. (AP Photo)
House Republicans introduce bill to buy back Panama Canal after Trump raises concerns over China
According to the State Department, 70% of all ships crossing the canal are inbound or outbound entering U.S. ports. It is also a key border crossing point for U.S. Coast Guard and Department of Defense ships.
The boat will need to travel 8,000 miles around South America to avoid using the path.
Topshot – U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio boards board a plane to El Salvador and was on February 3, 2025 in El Salvador at Panama International Airport in Panama City. (Mark Schiefelbein/Pool AP/AFP via Getty Images)
Click here to get Fox News applications
Fox News Digital requested a State Department comment, but no response was immediately received as of Wednesday night.
Danielle Wallace and Stepheny Price of Fox News Digital contributed to the report.
