Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino on Thursday vehemently denied President-elect Trump's claims that of Chinese interference in the Panama Canal. Why it matters: Trump has cited China increasing dominance in trade throughout the Americas as a reason to take control of the Panama Canal,

President Mulino said the ‘canal is Panamanian and there’s no possibility of opening any kind of conversation around this reality’.

Panama President Jose Raul Mulino said China has no stake in the Panama Canal and US warships pay the same toll rates as other nations, pushing back against Donald Trump’s threats over the key waterway.