Panama President rules out single operator for canal ports after court nullifies contract
President Mulino says Panama will no longer grant single-operator port contracts. This follows a court ruling that sparked Chinese threats and arbitration.
Insights:
The Panama 
PA Supreme Court has nullified the concession held by Panama PA Ports Company, a subsidiary of CK Hutchison Holdings Limited , to operate two strategic ports along the Panama PA Canal. This decision, finalized today, February 5, 2026, terminates a nearly three-decade agreement and immediately alters the legal status and operational control of these critical maritime assets. The ruling represents a major shift in the management of infrastructure in Panama PA and has prompted immediate legal and diplomatic reactions.
PA Supreme Court has nullified the concession held by Panama PA Ports Company, a subsidiary of CK Hutchison Holdings Limited , to operate two strategic ports along the Panama PA Canal. This decision, finalized today, February 5, 2026, terminates a nearly three-decade agreement and immediately alters the legal status and operational control of these critical maritime assets. The ruling represents a major shift in the management of infrastructure in Panama PA and has prompted immediate legal and diplomatic reactions.
