PANAMA CITY (Reuters) - Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino said on Wednesday morning that U.S. President Donald Trump was lying when he said that the North American leader’s administration was "reclaiming" the Panama Canal.

Trump’s comments to Congress came after a deal led by U.S. firm BlackRock (NYSE: BLK ) was announced earlier Tuesday to buy most of the $22.8 billion ports business of Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison, which includes assets along the Panama Canal.