Overview
- CK Hutchison warned A.P. Moller–Maersk that any move by Maersk or APM Terminals to operate Balboa and Cristóbal without its agreement will face legal recourse.
- Panamanian authorities have indicated APM Terminals would manage the ports on an interim basis to keep operations running after the Supreme Court annulled the concession.
- CK Hutchison has begun ICC arbitration and notified Panama of a dispute under an investment‑protection treaty, saying it will pursue all available legal avenues.
- APM Terminals says it is willing to step in temporarily to protect trade flows and is not a party to the legal proceedings or decisions over the terminals.
- The dispute clouds CK Hutchison’s planned $23 billion sale of its ports business and escalates geopolitical tensions, with China warning Panama of a political and economic “heavy price.”