Panama Supreme Court cancels CK Hutchison port concessions on strategic canal
Panama’s Supreme Court has annulled the concession that allowed Hong Kong–based conglomerate CK Hutchison to operate two major ports located at the Atlantic and Pacific entrances of the Panama Canal. The ruling declared unconstitutional the legal framework under which the contracts were granted.
The decision follows complaints filed by Panama’s Comptroller General, who raised concerns over alleged irregularities in the agreements covering the ports of Cristóbal and Balboa. The case has unfolded amid growing geopolitical pressure, particularly from the United States, which has repeatedly called for a reduction of Chinese-linked influence over the strategic waterway.
Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino previously criticized the contracts as unbalanced and contrary to national interests. Washington has also demanded preferential conditions for U.S. vessels transiting the canal, which handles around 5% of global maritime trade.
CK Hutchison, founded by billionaire Li Ka-shing, has operated the two ports through its subsidiary since 1997 under a long-term concession renewed in 2021. Although the group reported significant financial contributions to the Panamanian state and a largely local workforce, uncertainty now surrounds its future presence in the canal zone.
The ruling could further complicate a proposed transfer of port control to a U.S.-led investment consortium, a deal that remains unfinished and has drawn scrutiny from Beijing.
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