The Indicator from Planet Money

Is the Panama Canal a rip-off?

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March 05, 2025 2:00am

9m

Who pays to use the Panama Canal and how much? These questions are part of the tensions between the U.S. and Panama after President Trump threatened to take over the canal. We look at the global shipping lane's fee structure in light of the president's claim that the U.S. is getting ripped off.

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