CCTV News, December 22, US President-elect Trump said on the 21st that the Panama Canal is an "important national asset of the United States" and threatened that the United States would "recover" the Panama Canal. Panamanian scholars criticized Trump's remarks as "absurd."
Trump wrote on social media that "the Panama Canal plays a critical role in the U.S. economy and national security and is considered an important national asset of the United States", "A safe Panama Canal is essential for the rapid deployment of U.S. commerce and navy from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, greatly reducing navigation time to U.S. ports", "The United States is the number one user of the Panama Canal, More than 70 percent of transit cargo is headed to or from U.S. ports."
Trump claimed that the United States "paid a great price in lives and treasure" to build the Panama Canal, which was then "foolishly" given to Panama to manage, but that this was not "for Panama to charge exorbitantly high tolls to the United States, the United States Navy and companies doing business with the United States." The US Navy and commerce are being treated unfairly and the fees charged by Panama are "ridiculous," especially given the "great generosity of the United States to Panama," and this "extortion" of the United States should stop immediately, or else "we will demand the full return of the Panama Canal to the United States," and "Panamanian officials, please follow instructions!"
Panama's president refutes Trump's comments
On the afternoon of December 22 local time, Panamanian President Jose Mulino delivered a speech refuting US President-elect Donald Trump's remarks on the Panama Canal, stressing that the Panama Canal is owned by Panama and that Panama's national sovereignty and independence are inviolable.
Mulino noted that the two treaties signed between Panama and the United States in 1977 clearly stated that sovereignty over the Panama Canal belongs to Panama, and that the United States transferred full jurisdiction over the canal to Panama on December 31, 1999. Panama therefore strongly rejects any denial of this fact.
At the regular press conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on December 23, a reporter asked that US President-elect Donald Trump said that the Panama Canal is an important national asset of the United States and threatened that the United States will "take back" the Panama Canal. What is China's comment?
Canal tolls are not arbitrary, and the canal is not under the direct or indirect control of any major power.
Maoning stressed that the Panama Canal is a great creation of the Panamanian people and a golden waterway that promotes connectivity among countries around the world. China has always supported the Panamanian people in their just struggle to safeguard sovereignty over the Canal. As early as the 1960s, China held large-scale demonstrations across the country to actively support the Panamanian people in their struggle to regain sovereignty over the canal. China will, as always, respect Panama's sovereignty over the Canal and recognize it as a permanently neutral international waterway. It is believed that under the efficient management of the Panama Canal, the Panama Canal will continue to make new contributions to promoting people-to-people exchanges and enhancing the well-being of mankind.
MSC and CMA CGM announce the introduction of the Panama Canal surcharge from January 1, 2025
Two major shipping companies, MSC and CMA CGM, have announced a new Panama Canal surcharge on the Asia-U.S. East Coast route in response to the Canal Authority's implementation of a new reservation system to "optimize transit operations."
On December 16, MSC Mediterranean Marine issued an announcement informing customers that in order to address the increased costs associated with these changes and maintain its commitment to providing reliable and efficient services, MSC will introduce the Panama Canal Surcharge (PCS).
Effective January 1, 2025, the affected trade routes: Southeast Asia, China, Korea and Japan to the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico of the United States, the rate is $40 /TEU for all cargo types.
The CMA CGM similarly issued an announcement imposing a "Panama Canal transit surcharge" from January 1, 2025 "to recover this additional cost" and "to continue to provide the most reliable service through the Panama Canal."
Related routes: CBX, GMXP, MANB, PEX 3, SAX, TWS, VESPUCC.
Shippers and freight forwarders should note that CMA CGM's Ocean Alliance partners, such as COSCO, OOCL and Evergreen, may also introduce similar surcharges, as the affected services are all Ocean Alliance services.
A quick calculation found that an average container ship of about 12,500TEU would incur a transit surcharge of about $500,000, while a 9,000TEU ship would incur a transit surcharge of about $360,000.
A new ACP measure, designed to discourage late cancellations and no-shows, will impose a hefty surcharge equivalent to 250% of the booking fee if a vessel does not arrive within seven days of the scheduled date. However, the ACP has also introduced "increased flexibility in exchange requests" so that operators can submit exchange requests for free up to 14 days before the stated arrival time. Bookings made within 14 days prior to arrival will be subject to a 1% surcharge of the booking fee.
In addition, the company has introduced a "Last minute transit booking fee" to provide an option for vessels that cannot obtain a booking time through regular means to arrive at the canal without a reservation. Finally, a "vessel dispatch fee" will be imposed "to better accommodate ships that cannot be booked through the regular reservation system but need to coordinate with the canal to arrange transit."
"These changes will provide customers with greater flexibility and convenience while ensuring efficient use of canal resources," the ACP said.
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