Back
13 Feb 2026
U.S.–China proxy battle over Panama Canal ports set to intensify as CK Hutchison warns of legal action
Summary
CK Hutchison Holdings threatened legal action against A.P. Moller-Maersk after Panamanian authorities tapped the Danish shipping giant to temporarily take over operations of two strategic ports at either end of the Panama Canal. The dispute, stemming from a Panama Supreme Court ruling declaring CK Hutchison’s concession unconstitutional, has become a geopolitical flashpoint between the U.S. and China. The U.S. sees the ruling as a victory, while China warns of political and economic consequences for Panama.
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/13/panama-ports-us-china-ck-hutchison-trump.html