PANAMA CANAL SETS TWO-STEP TOLL HIKE
The Cabinet Council of Panama has approved a two-phase increase in Panama Canal tolls.
Tolls will increase 8 percent, effective Oct. 1, and will be increased an additional 4.5 percent in July 2003. The council also approved a locomotive charge of $200 per wire.
Aleman Zubieta, Canal administrator, said, “we considered the comments and recommendations submitted during the public response period and during a public hearing on July 19,” before deciding to split the toll increase into two phases.