Since the canals are critical for trade, this add still another variable to make the shipping industry nervous.  HTF could he get them to agree to this other than with military force?  When a ship arrives at the locks, if you don't pay, they don't pump the water.

His rationale here seems to be since Amerikan engineers did design work 100+ years ago, we get a free pass forever?  What about the countries that provided the laborers to dig them?  Shouldn't they get a free pass also?

Trump figures Colonial policy was great!  The King sends a ship somewhere, captain steps ashore and plants a flag and claims the whole neighborhood now belongs to the Crown.  ::)   Those pesky folks already living there can now either pay taxes to him or move somewhere else.  Or he'll donate smallpox infected blankets to them.

https://www.politico.eu/article/donald-trump-wants-free-pass-us-ships-panama-suez-canals/

Trump wants free pass for US ships in Panama, Suez canals

RE