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yesterday

Trump Orders Rubio to Secure Toll-Free Passage for U.S. Ships Through Panama and Suez Canals

The president asserts U.S. contributions to the canals' existence and directs immediate action to formalize free transit for military and commercial vessels.

An aerial view shows a cargo vessel transits through the Agua Clara Locks at the Panama Canal, in Colon, Panama, February 1, 2025. REUTERS/Enea Lebrun/File Photo
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Overview

  • President Trump announced on Truth Social that U.S. military and commercial ships should transit the Panama and Suez Canals without paying tolls.
  • Trump instructed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to finalize agreements ensuring toll-free access for American vessels through both canals.
  • The Panama Canal, built by the U.S. in the early 1900s and handed over in 1999, remains vital for U.S. trade, handling 40% of U.S. container traffic annually.
  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently announced a U.S.-Panama framework for 'first and free' warship transit, emphasizing the canal's strategic importance.
  • The U.S. continues military strikes on Houthi targets to restore secure navigation in the Suez Canal, disrupted by attacks that have impacted global trade.