Former U.S. President and current President-elect Donald Trump has set his sights on the Panama Canal, accusing the Central American country of unfairly charging American ships "ridiculous" fees to use the historic waterway. Speaking on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump warned that if Panama doesn’t reduce the costs, the U.S. might demand control of the canal be handed back.
Trump criticized the fees, which range from $0.50 to a staggering $300,000 depending on the ship and its cargo, calling them a “complete rip-off.” The Panama Canal, built under U.S. leadership in 1914, remains a crucial trade route, handling about 5% of global shipping. Over 70% of the goods passing through the canal are tied to the U.S., making it a vital artery for American trade and security.
In 1977, then-U.S. President Jimmy Carter signed a treaty to hand over full control of the canal to Panama in 1999. Trump labeled this decision “foolish,” arguing it was meant only for Panama to mana...
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