Weekly Report - 05 February 2026 (WR-26-05)

Panama’s supreme court (CSJ) has struck down a concession for two ports on the Panama Canal owned by Panama Ports Company (PPC), a subsidiary of Hong Kong-headquartered CK Hutchison Holdings. The contract has been at the heart of tensions between Panama, China, which blasted the CSJ decision, and the US, which has welcomed it amid efforts to reduce Beijing’s influence in the region. It is widely considered a victory for the US administration led by President Donald Trump, who last year said he wanted to take control of the Panama Canal, which handles some 5% of global trade, citing Chinese influence as a factor [WR-25-04].