Donald Trump’s Panama Canal threat: What’s at stake and why it matters now

Latin American leaders united against President-elect Donald Trump’s recent comments suggesting the US should reclaim control of the Panama Canal. Trump criticised Panama’s canal fees as exorbitant and hinted at rising Chinese influence, prompting strong responses from Panamanian officials. The 82-kilometre canal, a crucial global trade route, was fully handed to Panama in 1999 under a US treaty.