The president of Panama, Jose Raul Mulino, said that US President Donald Trump was lying when he said that the North American leader’s administration was “claiming” the expedition.

Trump’s comments to Congress came after US company BlackRock’s management announced on Tuesday that it had struck a deal to buy most of Hong Kong group CK Hutchison’s $22.8 billion ports business, which includes assets along the Panama Canal.

It will be recalled that Donald Trump had stated several times during his election campaign and after taking office that he intended to “take back” the Panama Canal from Panama. “We didn’t give it to China, we gave it to Panama, and we’re taking it back,” he said in a speech to Congress.