Senate hearing on Panama Canal: China’s grip has been around for a while

Competition with China was front and center at a Senate hearing on the Panama Canal.

The Chair of the Federal Maritime Commission told lawmakers China’s grip has been around for some time.

“It’s a problem that has been going on for 20 years, which makes it very difficult to answer your question. It is a long answer. This is not a problem that occurred last week. This is not something that President Trump identified, this was going on all President Biden’s term, but of all of President Trump’s first term. It has been going on for decades and decades through both U.S. Republicans and Democrats as President. The only thing I can say is I echo was Ranking Member Cantell said, and I think others of both parties have echoed it, that we need some sort of overall maritime strategy. We have to acknowledge that this is part of our national security,” said Daniel B. Maffei.

During the hearing, Texas Senator Ted Cruz emphasized that China’s influence on the Canal is a national security risk. They also discussed shipping fees and ways to minimize the impact on American businesses.

Related Stories
With the latest detection just across the border, animal health officials on both sides are intensifying efforts to contain the outbreak before it spreads further north.
While symbolic, the WTO’s youth hackathon reflects growing calls for creative approaches to food trade and security, with potential implications for reducing losses, expanding biofuel markets, and stabilizing grain flows.
All eyes will be on today’s Cattle on Feed Report, which analysts say could give a clearer picture of where the market goes next.
According to the National Council of Farmers Cooperatives (NCFC), President and CEO Chuck Conner says, there is only one other option besides addressing ag labor shortages.
U.S. aquaculture may gain competitive ground as harmful subsidies are phased out abroad, but producers should monitor shifts in import supply chains and trade enforcement closely.
Farmers await concrete trade commitments from China. Until then, export prospects for soybeans, corn, and sorghum remain uncertain against strong South American competition.