NPR - Trump has started talks of retaking the Panama Canal as part of a new expansionist agenda that emerged after his election. Panama has controlled the U.S.-built canal for decades. Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino says this action is not up for discussion. However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio spent yesterday discussing it during a visit to the region.
Rubio delivered a message that Trump has made a preliminary determination that China has too much influence over the canal, which he says violates international treaties, according to NPR's Ari Shapiro. Unless there are immediate changes, the administration has expressed that the U.S. will do what it has to to protect its rights. A company based in Hong Kong does operate ports at either end of the canal, but Panama runs the canal itself. Shapiro says the U.S. is not backing down and Panama is not caving either. With 40% of all U.S. container traffic coming through the canal, the stakes are significant.
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