As for the Panama Canal, Mulino denied U.S. vessels are being overcharged to use the waterway and emphasized that China plays no role in the canal. A Hong Kong-based firm manages two ports at the Panama Canal’s entrances, but Panama owns and operates the entire canal.

Treaties ratified by the Senate in 1978 established permanent neutrality, but some Republicans regret that decision.

Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino rejected President-elect Trump’s claims of Chinese interference and high fees to use the Panama Canal. The post Panama’s president rejects Trump’s claim of Chinese interference at canal appeared first on FreightWaves.