Taking Back The Canal: The U.S. has secured two deals with the Panama Canal

The United States has secured two deals involving the Panama Canal after months of back and forth over the key waterway.

In last night’s cabinet meeting with the President, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth shared that the Panama Canal Authority has agreed to allow U.S. military vessels to pass through first and free.

A memorandum of understanding has also been signed between the two countries to secure the Panama Canal from Chinese influence.

A military base for both the U.S. and Panama has been established, the Defense Secretary went on to describe Panama’s President as very complimentary of the U.S., calling him a great ally.

More than 40% of the United States container traffic, worth nearly $270 billion, passes through the canal each year.

Related Stories
China is making strategic moves by purchasing more soybeans from Argentina and may soon follow the EU and reopen its market to Brazilian chicken exports.
Farmers should watch for soybean export rebounds with harvest, while corn and wheat shipments remain strong and sorghum demand struggles.
Rollins says the new trade relationship with Taiwan, which is committed to buying a significant amount of U.S. soy, could not come at a better time for farmers facing financial strain.
Higher tariffs may shield some U.S. crops but risk retaliation, lost markets, and higher costs for growers. The WTO disputes highlight the fragile balance between trade policy, farm exports, and input supply chains.
USMEF CEO Dan Halstrom joined us on Monday’s Market Day Report for his analysis on the U.S.-Taiwan trade agreement, which includes big bucks for U.S. Beef.
Record U.S. sorghum crop faces weak demand as China slashes imports, while corn farmers warn of rising costs, shrinking margins, and global market pressures.