The U.S. State Department announced Wednesday that U.S. government ships can now transit the Panama Canal without paying tolls.
The Panama Canal Authority responded within hours, denying the State Department’s statement.
The Panama Canal Authority, which is controlled by the Panamanian government, said in a statement that it had made no changes to the way it charges tolls or grants rights to transit the canal.
“The Panama Canal Authority is prepared to engage in dialogue with U.S. officials regarding the transit of ships from that country in times of war,” the canal authority said.
