Saturday, 4 April 2026, 7:34 am
Press Release: U.S. Department of State
Marco Rubio, Secretary of State
April 2,
2026
China’s recent actions against Panama-flagged
vessels raise serious concerns about the use of economic
tools to undermine the rule of law in Panama, a sovereign
nation and vital partner for global commerce. Detentions,
delays, or other impediments to the movement of vessels
undermine the stability of global supply chains, increase
costs for businesses and consumers, and erode confidence in
the international trading system.
China’s actions
against Panama-flagged vessels follow the recent decision by
Panama’s independent Supreme Court regarding the Balboa
and Cristóbal terminals. This sovereign ruling upheld
transparency, the rule of law, and held private operators
accountable to the public interest. The judgment also makes
clear that Panama is a reliable partner for international
investment and business opportunities. The United States
stands firmly with Panama and looks forward to increasing
our economic and security cooperation with this important
partner.
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