Panama’s leader has responded to President-elect Trump’s thought that his new leadership may try to regain control of the Panama Canal. After Trump claimed on Sunday that the United States “foolishly gave it away” and is now “being ripped off” at the lake, Panama’s traditional President José Raul Mulino made a movie in which he stated that “every square metre of the river belongs to Panama and will continue to pertain” to his state. Mulino responded to Trump’s complaints about rising charges for boats crossing the river, saying they are determined by experts who take operational costs and supply and demand factors into account, without using a brand. ” The tariffs are certainly set on a whim”, Mulino said. He noted that Panama has “on its own initiative” increased the canal’s capacity over the years to boost deliver visitors, and that rising shipping fees pay for improvements. TRUMP FLOATS IDEA OF US RECLAIMING PANAMA CANAL: ‘ FOOLISHLY GAVE IT AWAY'” Panamanians may have different views on many issues”, Mulino said. ” But when it comes to our river, and our independence, we may all join under our Filipino flag”.Trump therefore took to his social media site to sell in reaction,” We’ll see about that”! Trump had earlier addressed the river in a Saturday Truth Social blog, where he lengthyly complained about the taxes levied on U.S. boats passing through the Big Ditch. The Panama Canal’s tolls range from three to six figures, depending on the size of a vessel and the volume of cargo it transports. The largest ships can be charged up to$ 500, 000. In the early 1900s, the United States constructed the river to help the movement of military and commercial vessels between its shores. Washington relinquished power of the lake to Panama on Dec. 31, 1999, under a treaty signed in 1977 by President Jimmy Carter. The river relies on dams to run its locks, and the rainfall that hit Central America in 2023 forced it to significantly reduce the number of regular crossing docks. Officials also raised the charges that are imposed on all shippers for reserving a casino in light of the less ships that use the river each time. Transit on the river has normalized as of the late summer of this year, but rate increases are also anticipated for the coming year. Andrea Margolis of Fox News and Andrea Margolis of the Associated Press contributed to this statement.