Why the Panama Canal is a big, long-term prize in Trump's global trade war
- President Trump's trade war and tariffs on China have disrupted global supply chains, threatening the Panama Canal's role as a key trade gateway in 2025.
- This disruption follows years of Panama increasingly aligning with China while distancing from the U.S., raising concerns about the canal's control and commercial direction.
- The canal handles $270 billion in annual cargo, with 75% linked to U.S. Trade, but recent droughts, extreme weather, and tariff-induced reduced shipments have put its business at risk.
- Supply chain firm Project44 reported a 300% rise in blank sailings from China to the U.S. Since Trump's April tariff announcement, signaling a severe drop in shipping activity through the canal.
- As the U.S. Threatens to reassert control and BlackRock pursues port acquisitions, the canal's future revenue and global trade dynamics remain uncertain amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
10 Articles
10 Articles
Just not in time
Donald Trump’s tariffs and before-the-border barriers are a de facto self-imposed naval blockade of America that undermines the modern just-in-time economy. In the world pre-COVID, logistic chains developed to satisfy the “just-in-time” approach to inventory control, manufacturing and consumer supply. Initially, the COVID disruption changed that, but the development of friend-shoring soon restored the concept. […]
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