Summary
Donald Trump criticized Panama Canal fees as “ridiculous” and demanded lower costs or the canal’s return to the US.
In a Truth Social post, Trump also expressed concern about potential Chinese influence over the waterway, despite no direct Chinese control of canal operations.
The canal, transferred to Panama in 1999, is vital for global trade, handling 5% of maritime traffic.
Trump’s comments follow record revenues of $5 billion announced by the Panama Canal Authority. Panama has not yet responded to his statements.
Where there problems of this sort with any of the previous presidents?
This specific problem, probably not, but in general the 2 month lame duck session is a problem. It creates a period of no accountability for the president giving up their power, and the window makes doing things internationally more difficult as the incoming president may do things differently and cancel/change things.
That’s one of the things about Trump that I think isn’t talked about enough. Now any agreements signed by the US seem like a crapshoot because the next guy in is just going to pull out or cancel them. Trump will do it for a second time to the Paris climate agreement. What about a peace treaty? Or a mutual defense pact? Why should another county trust us?