Panama's Supreme Court ruled on January 30, 2026, that the concession held by Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings to operate ports at either end of the Panama Canal is unconstitutional. The decision came during the reporting window from 4:46 AM to 7:46 AM UTC, according to the Associated Press. The ruling targets the operations of CK Hutchison's subsidiary, Hutchison Ports PPC, which manages the Balboa port on the Pacific side and the Cristobal port on the Atlantic side of the canal. Panama's government had challenged the 25-year concession granted in 1997, arguing it violated constitutional requirements for public bidding, as reported by AP citing court documents. The Supreme Court declared the concession contract null and void, stating it lacked legal basis under Panama's constitution. The ports handle significant cargo traffic essential to the canal's operations, according to the AP article published this morning.
