Panama: Supreme Court declares Hutchinson’s control over ports unconstitutional

After 28 years of operation, Panama’s Supreme Court ruled that the concession contract granting Hutchinson’s local subsidiary control over the country’s main ports is unconstitutional. The decision terminates the 1997 agreement, its addendums, and the 25‑year extension, opening a new chapter in the geopolitical dispute over the strategic interoceanic route. In response, the government activated a transition plan to administer the Balboa port on the Pacific and Cristóbal port on the Atlantic. The ruling comes amid U.S. pressure following a failed attempt by the BlackRock investment fund to acquire the concession, leaving the future of Panama’s two main terminals uncertain.

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