Trump wants to control the Panama Canal – level 2
07-01-2025 15:00
Panama celebrated 25 years of controlling the Panama Canal, which the US gave back on December 31, 1999.
Donald Trump says the US should take the canal back. At the ceremony, Panama’s President promised the canal would always belong to Panama. The canal connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and is very important for world trade. The US built it in 1914 after a French project failed because many workers died from diseases. Trump says Panama charges high fees for US ships and that China has influence. But there is no proof of that. Currently, the US can act only if the canal’s fairness is at risk.
The canal is still a key part of global trade and politics, 70% of all ships which go through do business with the US.
Difficult words: trade (business activities), fail (to not be successful), proof (a fact or piece of information which shows that something is true).
You can watch the original video in the Level 3 section.
What percentage of all ships that pass through the Panama Canal do business with the US?
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