After pressure from the United States, the American financial firm BlackRock has taken control of two Chinese-owned ports at either end of the Panama Canal.
President Donald Trump has threatened to take back the Panama Canal, claiming that China has too much influence. Both China and Panama deny the claim.
According to an agreement, the Hong Kong-based company Hutchison, which operates the ports in the cities of Balboa and Cristobal, will sell its ownership stake to BlackRock.
The Panama Canal was built by the United States in the early 20th century and belonged to the U.S. until it was handed over to Panama by President Jimmy Carter in 1999.
