by the El Reportero staff
In another move aligning with his “America First” agenda, President Donald Trump has secured what many are calling a significant victory, following his recent remarks about reclaiming control over the Panama Canal.
According to reports, American investment giant BlackRock has acquired nearly all key ports along the canal, a strategic waterway linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The ports were previously controlled by CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd., a Hong Kong-based conglomerate that sold its stake in the operations.
This sale follows Trump’s bold assertion that the United States should oversee the Panama Canal, given that it originally funded and built the passage in the early 20th century. Before its completion in 1914, ships were forced to navigate the treacherous and lengthy route around Cape Horn at South America’s tip.
Under the terms of the deal, BlackRock—teaming up with Global Infrastructure Partners and Terminal Investment Ltd.—has acquired an 80 percent stake in Hutchison Ports. The transaction also includes a controlling interest in Panama Ports Co., which manages the vital ports of Balboa and Cristobal. The reported price tag for the deal is $19 billion, according to Bloomberg.
While this acquisition marks a major strategic gain for American economic influence, it coincided with another major Trump policy shift—his long-anticipated tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada. Shortly after these trade restrictions took effect, Trump took to Truth Social, urging companies to manufacture their products domestically.
“If companies move to the United States, there are no tariffs!!!” he posted in all caps.
Though CK Hutchison is a publicly traded firm, its base in Hong Kong has led to speculation about Beijing’s indirect influence. With China tightening its grip on the territory in recent years, some observers suggest the sale might have been expedited to appease Trump and reduce U.S.-China tensions. On the same day, Trump escalated his trade war by doubling tariffs on Chinese imports to 20 percent, prompting Beijing to retaliate with its own levies on American goods.
Larry Fink, the CEO of BlackRock, has longstanding ties to Trump, having managed portions of his wealth in the past. The New York Post reported that Fink was once in the running for Treasury Secretary, though he later withdrew from consideration. His firm’s acquisition of the Panama Canal ports is widely seen as a move that could further bolster his influence within Trump’s economic circle.
Beyond this latest port deal, Trump has also secured commitments from corporate giants, including Apple and a SoftBank-led consortium, to invest $600 billion in American workforce development focused on artificial intelligence.
Additionally, Honda announced plans on Monday to manufacture its next-generation Civic in Indiana, reversing an earlier decision to produce the model in Mexico.
