WHO OWNS THE PANAMA CANAL?
The Panama Canal has been managed and operated by the Panama Canal Authority since the transfer from the US on December 31,1999. The Panama Canal Authority is an Independent State Institution of the Republic of Panama, therefore the Panama Canal belongs to the State (i.e. all the Panamanian citizens). That is why on 2006 a Referendum was held to decide if the people wanted the Canal enlarged, it was decided to go ahead with the expansion. The Canal is not managed by the Chinese, it is managed and operated by the Panamanian. Source(s): Live in Panama. Other Travel Tips The government of Panama owns it. It is managed by a Chinese company. Recently the people of Panama approved a referendum to enlarge the Canal. Basically,the Chinese. The Republic of Panama does own the canal on paper. However, what many people fail to understand is the US still has a large hand in the development and general status of the canal. Did you know after the people of Panama voted to widen the canal before they
