Who owns the Panama Canal?
user
The Panama Canal is owned by the Republic of Panama, the country which surrounds it.
assistant
Didn't the US once own it?
user
No, the US built the Panama Canal but they had to give it to Panama in a treaty called the Panama Canal Treaty.
assistant
Who owns the Panama Canal?
user
The Panama Canal is owned by the Republic of Panama, the country which surrounds it.
assistant
Didn't the US once own it?
user
Not really.  Since the canal is in Panama, but not physically located in the US, a sovereign nation can own something without a legal entity of the US owning it.  So the US did sell a piece of the territory to construct the canal, but later renounced any claim to it.
assistant
Who owns the Panama Canal?