Sat Feb 22 15:25:40 UTC 2025: ## Panama Court to Review Hong Kong Firm’s Panama Canal Port Concession
**Panama City, February 22, 2025** – A Panama court will review the concession granted to CK Hutchison Holdings, a Hong Kong conglomerate, to operate ports at both ends of the Panama Canal. The decision follows a lawsuit filed by a lawyer seeking to nullify the contract, echoing concerns previously raised by former U.S. President Donald Trump regarding Chinese influence.
CK Hutchison, owned by billionaire Li Ka-shing, operates the Cristobal and Balboa ports through its subsidiary, Panama Ports Company. The current concession, granted in 1997, was automatically renewed in 2021 and is set to expire in 2047. This is the second legal challenge to the concession this month, with earlier claims arguing the contract was unconstitutional.
Trump’s accusations that China was effectively controlling the canal led to heightened tensions. However, recent diplomatic efforts, including a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have eased concerns. Panama subsequently announced an audit of Panama Ports Company and withdrew from China’s Belt and Road Initiative. The court’s review will determine the future of CK Hutchison’s long-standing operation of these crucial canal ports.
First Piper 