PREVIEW

Panama Court Scraps Hutchison Port Deals, Casting Shadow Over Canal Operations. Panama’s Supreme Court has struck down key port contracts held by a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison, throwing the future of major Panama Canal terminals into uncertainty. The ruling voids decades-old concessions to operate container ports at both entrances of the canal, calling the legal basis for the deals unconstitutional. The decision could derail Hutchison's planned 23-billion-dollar sale of ports worldwide, including the Panamanian terminals, to a consortium led by BlackRock and Mediterranean Shipping Company. Hutchison's shares fell sharply after the ruling. The move comes amid rising U.S.–China tensions over global trade routes. Washington has pushed to limit Chinese influence around the canal, while Beijing had opposed the sale. Panama may now need new tenders or partnerships to keep port operations running—critical for a waterway that handles about five percent of global maritime trade.
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