Trade war sparks Panama Canal reshuffle

Japan has overtaken China to become the second-biggest user of the Panama Canal amid an escalating trade war between Beijing and Washington, canal authorities said Thursday.

China’s slip to third is due to decreased shipments of natural and liquid petroleum gas as the Asian giant is buying less of them from the United States,” administrator Jorge Quijano told reporters, adding that at least 2 million tons of gas are not being moved through the canal as a result, the Associated Press reports.