In response to Trump’s allegations that China was in charge of the canal, Ricaurte Vasquez argues that granting deviations to the existing regulations governing its operation would cause “chaos.”
under response to President-elect Donald Trump’s assertions that the United States should assume control of the crucial waterway, the Panama Canal administrator has stated that it would remain under Panamanian control and continue accessible to international trade.
Ricaurte Vasquez refuted Trump’s allegations that China was in charge of the canal’s operations in an interview with The Associated Press on Friday, saying that granting exceptions to the existing regulations governing its operation would cause “chaos.”
He claimed that a Hong Kong consortium that won a bidding process in 1997 included Chinese businesses that operated at the ports on either end of the canal. Other ports around the canal are also run by Taiwanese and American enterprises, he added.
Trump would not rule out using military force to regain control of the canal, and he has even gone so far as to imply that the US should do it.
Trump stated on Tuesday that “it might be that you’ll have to do something.” “The Panama Canal is vital to our country.”
According to Trump, the costs associated with using the canal that links the Atlantic and Pacific oceans are “ridiculous.”
Jose Raul Mulino, the president of Panama, has stated firmly that Panama will continue to own the canal.
Vasquez responded that there was “no foundation for that sort of hope” to the idea that the US may attempt to regain control of the canal. I have nothing more to say than that.
No capricious changes
Vasquez emphasized that all nations may conduct business through the Panama Canal. According to Vasquez, a neutrality convention prevents the canal from treating ships flying the US flag differently.
“The most sensible and efficient way to do this is to maintain the established rules.”
According to him, requests for exceptions are frequently denied as the procedure is transparent and arbitrary deviations are not permitted. American warships are the lone exception to the neutrality treaty, as they are granted expedited transit.
Approximately 70% of all maritime commerce that passes through the Panama Canal departs or arrives in US ports.
According to Vasquez, a planned sequence of hikes in the canal’s fees came to an end this month. To provide clients with clarity in their planning, he said, any further increases would be examined in the first half of the year and would be subject to a public comment process.
“There’s no discrimination in the fees,” he stated. “The price rules are uniform for absolutely all those who transit the canal and clearly defined.”
The canal relies on reservoirs to run its locks, and during the last two years, drought has severely impacted it, forcing it to drastically cut down on the number of daily slots available to crossing ships.
Administrators raised the rates that all shippers must pay to reserve a slot because fewer ships are using the canal every day.
The canal, which is 82 kilometers long from end to end, splits Panama. Ships can circumnavigate Cape Horn at the southernmost extremity of the world without having to make the more expensive and time-consuming journey.
Vasquez remarked, “It is an enormous responsibility,” regarding Panama’s authority over the canal. “Take the case of Covid, when it arrived, the canal took the necessary measures to protect the labour force, but while keeping the canal open, because the international commitment is to keep it open.”
