US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has walked back the assertion of the State Department that Panama “has agreed to no longer charge fees” to US government vessels transiting the Panama Canal after outcry from the Panamanian government.

Panama President José Raúl Mulino has rejected the U.S. State Department’s claim that his country had reached a deal allowing U.S. warships to transit the Panama Canal for free

The U.S. Department of State said on Wednesday American government vessels can now transit the Panama Canal without charge fees. "The government of Panama has agreed to no longer charge fees for U.S.