CK Hutchison launches arbitration proceedings against Panama, seeking more than $1.5bn in damages

Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings Limited announces that it has commenced international arbitration proceedings against the Republic of Panama, seeking damages of more than US$1.5 billion. This for what it calls breaches of treaty obligations and international law through sovereign acts that targeted a decades-old ports concession and destroyed CK Hutchison’s investments in Panama.
  


CK Hutchison notified Panama of a treaty dispute on 4 February 2026, following what it called “a year-long State attack campaign on the company’s assets”, seeking to resolve the dispute but to no avail.

The Hong Kong company alleges that beginning in early 2025, Panama launched a State attack campaign against CK Hutcison investments that included “a sudden new investigation that lacked due process, a reversal of its longstanding legal position that had protected the ports concession for three decades as a matter of law, pursuing a governmental assault on the constitutionality of its own ‘contract-law’ and concession, and the development of a scheme to replace CK Hutchison subsidiary Panama Ports Company, S.A. (PPC). Panama has consistently sought to cover up its conduct through disinformation.”
  

In early 2026, Panama intensified its State campaign through executive actions and a radical takeover of the Balboa and Cristóbal port terminals controlled by PPC, CK

Hutchison continues, taking over property, equipment, technology, employees, and proprietary and protected documents and materials.
  

Panama has since “failed to take steps to resolve the treaty dispute and instead continued its campaign of attacks and disinformation,” claims CK Hutchison, “ultimately held only one perfunctory consultation meeting more than six months after the treaty notice, and has made no offer of compensation or resolution.”

CK Hutchison commenced arbitration proceedings against Panama this week, seeking damages of more than US$1.5 billion for breaches of treaty obligations and international law.  



The Hong Kong company points out that its treaty rights are distinct from PPC’s contract rights being pursued in a separate contract arbitration begun back in April.