The canal’s two biggest ports are operated by a Hong Kong company with global reach. The Trump administration sees a Chinese threat to U.S. security.

A sprawling business empire built by Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing is caught in the crossfire as the extent of Chinese influence over the Panama Canal is debated.US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week it was "unacceptable" for Hong Kong-based companies to control the canal's entry and exit points,

Panama's foreign office will share details on the new date once it has been coordinated, the government said. Mulino has accused the U.S. of spreading "lies and falsehoods" after its government claimed its vessels would be able to pass through the Panama Canal without paying.