Panama's President José Raúl Mulino rejected former President Donald Trump's threat to reimpose U.S. control over the Panama Canal. Mulino asserted that the country's sovereignty over the canal is non-negotiable and that every square meter of the canal belongs to Panama. Trump's comments on the canal came after he criticized the transit fees for U.S. vessels and expressed concerns over Chinese influence in the region. China does not control the canal, though a Chinese company manages two of the five adjacent ports. Mulino emphasized that Panama's sovereignty and independence are not up for negotiation.