Panamanian president says canal ‘not negotiable’ as Trump runs with idea of taking it back

Published December 22, 2024 10:21pm ET



The president of Panama sought to pour cold water on President-elect Donald Trump’s musings that the United States should take back the Panama Canal due to “ridiculous” and “unfair” passage fees for U.S. vessels passing through the key waterway.

In a video statement, Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino firmly rebuked Trump, saying that “every square meter of the Panama Canal and its adjacent zone belongs to Panama and will continue to do so.”

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