Panama eyes new China maritime deal despite Trump pressure
Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino expressed confidence Thursday that he can renew a maritime shipping agreement with China, circumventing tensions fueled by U.S. President Donald Trump's efforts to control the Panama Canal.
After establishing diplomatic relations in 2017, Panama and China formalized a maritime agreement offering preferential port tariffs and easier bureaucratic rules for ships under the Panamanian flag in Chinese harbors.
The agreement ends this year.
Panama is seeking to renew the deal despite complaining that its boats now suffer tighter controls in China following the cancellation of a Hong Kong company's concession to operate two ports in the Panama Canal.
