Panama Refutes U.S. Claim of Deal to Cut Canal Fees

Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino is denying a claim from the U.S. State Department that the Latin American country had agreed to allow U.S. naval vessels free passage through the Panama Canal. 

After meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on February 2, Mulino announced that he would be pulling Panama out of China’s Belt and Road initiative, and appeared willing to reconsider the concession allowing Hong Kong-owned CK Hutchison Holdings to operate a pair of ports at eithe…