The Panama canal has spent in recent years fighting extreme weather conditions, with the El Niño phenomenon and a severe drought leading to a crisis in the water. Now it is President Trump’s trade war that threatens the global trade gateway. A critical passage for trafficking in ocean freight containers to the American east coast, the Panama canal faces a potential commercial crisis following Trump porcelain prices and a rapid drop in manufactured products ordered by American sender.
Forty percent of all the United States moves into the Panama Canal each year, and all, 270 billion dollars in freight per year. The United States and China are the main users of the Panama Canal, and its role in global navigation has increased in recent years due to the disruption of global supply chains. Panama Canal Authority revenues reached $ 3.38 billion last year, despite drought conditions, and income has increased every year since 2017.
The uncertainty of the trade war and the 145% price of Trump on Chinese products – which will start to strike goods from China to American ports on May 27 on the basis of the four to six weeks that it takes for oceanic freight to reach the United States of Asia – has already led to a massive break on American imports related to China. According to data from the Intelligence Company of the Project44 supply chain, there was a 300% increase in virgin navigation (canceled freight ships) in the United States since the announcement of Trump’s so-called “Liberation Day” on April 2.
Ports of the west coast in the United States are already affected and the impact on ports of the East Coast should increase, with the withdrawal of ships following the decrease in manufacturing orders for Chinese factories: fewer manufactured products translate into less shipping containers for ocean carriers.
For the Asia Commercial Road in North America, maritime intelligence has recorded a bleached cumulative capacity of 261,822 equivalent twenty -foot (EVP.) In the past six weeks. This decrease in containers and ships may have an impact on income from the Panama Canal. The Panama canal earns its money on the number of transits and containers of ships moving in the navigable lane.
“”Given that almost 75% of our cargo goes to or from the United States, very recession in the world or in the United States will have an impact in a way the Panama Canal, “said Boris Moreno, Vice-president of Panama Canal Authority operations. “That’s sure.“”
One of the “seven wonders of the modern world”, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers, the channel has been a lightning rod for controversy in recent years in the battle for global supremacy between the United States and China. Trump said the main ports of the channel were controlled by China and threatened to reaffirm control of the United States on the channel, accusing Panama of invoicing excessive rates. China, as well as the Panama government, have denied these statements.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have both visited officials of the Panamanian government in recent months.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (L) speaks to the administrator of the Panama Canal Authority, Ricaurte Vasquez, during a miraflore locks of the Panama Canal in the city of Panama on February 2, 2025.
Mark Schiefelbein | AFP | Getty images
“”I think Panama in the past five years has come closer and more closer to China and far from the United States, “said Federal Commissioner Louis Sola in an interview with CNBC earlier this year.” I saw China and Brazil to remove $ 20 billion with direct contracts. We really need to have at least one game there. “”
Ricaurte Vasquez, administrator of Panama Canal Authority, told CNBC that with the United States being the greatest economy in the world, he reviews Trump’s concerns.
“Everything that is said in Washington has repercussions everywhere,” said Vasquez. “We are trying to stay cool, calm and collected.”
He added: “It is not true that we are led by Chinese. It is not true that we differentiates the prices. It is not true that 38,000 people die in the construction of the Panama canal. All those who want to sail in the Panama Canal. And we are open to the world. It is the treaty of neutrality. We must remain open.”
In March, an investment group led by the American company Blackrock announced that it was trying to buy two ports at each end of the canal, as well as around 40 other people from Hong Kong, Hutchison. The result of this agreement remains uncertain.
Watch the video Above to learn more about the cases of the Panama Canal and why President Trump focuses on it.
