US EditionHong Kong firm begins arbitration proceedings over ruling against its Panama Canal port contract
CK Hutchison seeks arbitration under International Chamber of Commerce rules to challenge Panama's Supreme Court voiding its port concession amid geopolitical tensions.
- Beginning arbitration, CK Hutchison said it reserves all rights after the Panama court's January 30 ruling,
- Panama's top court voided the concession on January 29, declaring it unconstitutional and biased in favor of the company to the detriment of the state's treasury.
- Official figures show Balboa and Cristóbal handled 3.88mn TEUs in 2025, representing 39.2% of container traffic; PPC has managed the terminals since the 1990s with a 25-year extension authorized in 2021.
- Beijing's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office denounced the ruling as `absurd`, `shameful and pathetic` and warned Panama would `pay a heavy price`, while U.S. officials hailed it as a win for America.
- From an investment perspective, the ruling complicates CK Hutchison's proposed sale of more than 40 ports worldwide to a consortium led by BlackRock and Mediterranean Shipping Company, a $23bn transaction value, and may reduce Beijing's leverage where COSCO sought inclusion.
127 Articles
127 Articles
China’s Influence in Panama Weakens as Court Cancels Hong Kong Company’s Canal Contracts
The Panama Supreme Court’s decision to invalidate Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison’s contract to operate the ports at both ends of the Panama Canal has weakened Beijing’s control over the key waterway, but the process may drag out as the Chinese regime fights to maintain its influence in the region, according to analysts. Panama’s supreme court ruled on Jan. 29 that the concession held by Panama Ports Co., a subsidiary of CK Hutchison Holdings, is u…
Panama Ports Company (PPC) will “actively and resolutely” resort to international arbitration under the rules of the International Chamber of Commerce, denouncing the judgment and actions of the Panamanian Government.
The Government of China reacted harshly to the ruling of the Supreme Court of Panama that annulled the concession of two strategic ports of the Panama Canal operated by the Hongkonesa company CK Hutchison. Beijing warned that the Central American country will pay a high political and economic price if it does not reverse the decision.The Office of Hong Kong and Macao Affairs of the Council of State, an organ of the Chinese Executive, described t…
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