Trump criticizes injustices against American ships in the Panama Canal.

He says he will seek to regain control of the Panama Canal.

Newly elected US President Donald Trump criticized what he said were unfair fees for US ships passing through the Panama Canal and threatened to demand that control of the waterway be returned to Washington.

He also pointed to China’s growing influence around the canal, which he said is a worrisome trend for American interests because American companies depend on the canal for the movement of goods between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

“Our navy and commerce have been treated in a very unjust and unfair manner. Teddy Roosevelt was the president of the United States at the time of its construction and he understood the power of sea power and commerce. When President Jimmy Carter recklessly gave it away for one dollar, during his term, he was governed solely by Panama, not China or anyone else. Likewise, Panama was not allowed to charge exorbitant prices and passage rates to the US, its navy and corporations operating in our country.” is Trump on his social network “Istina”.

He added that the fees charged by Panama are “ridiculous”, especially given the extraordinary generosity of the US towards Panama.

Panama has controlled the canal since 1999.
The Panama Canal, completed by the US in 1914, was returned to the Central American country under a 1977 agreement signed by Democratic President Jimmy Carter.

Panama took full control of it in 1999.