Washington (TDI): The United States president-elect Donald Trump has slammed what he called unfair fees for US ships passing through the Panama Canal and threatened to demand control of the waterway be returned to Washington.
He also hinted at China’s growing influence around the canal, a worrying trend for US interests as American businesses depend on the channel to move goods between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
“The US Navy and Commerce have been subjected to unfair and unreasonable treatment. Panama’s fees are absurd,” Trump stated in a post on his Truth Social platform.
“This complete ‘rip-off’ of the United States will immediately stop.”
The Panama Canal, which was completed by the US in 1914, was returned to Panama under a 1977 agreement signed by Democratic president Jimmy Carter. It took full control in 1999.
“It was solely for Panama to manage, not Beijing, or anyone else,” Trump said.
“We would and will never let it fall into the wrong hands!”
Trump added that if Panama fails to ensure “efficient, secure, and reliable operation” of the canal, ” the US will demand its full and unquestionable return”.
Authorities in Panama did not immediately react to Trump’s statement.
Although he does not officially take office until January 20, Trump has nevertheless been flexing his political influence in the waning days of President Joe Biden’s administration.
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He boasted on the campaign trail that as an entrepreneur, he was uniquely positioned to fight for American business interests.
An estimated 5% of global maritime traffic passes through the Panama Canal, which allows ships traveling between Asia and the US East Coast to avoid the hazardous and long route around the southern tip of South America.
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The main users of the passage are the US, Japan, China, and South Korea.
The Panama Canal Authority reported in October that the waterway had earned record revenues of nearly five billion dollars in the last fiscal year.
