Due to the pressure from the Trump administration, the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) recently hired a lobbying firm in Washington to launch political lobbying.
According to Washington Politico and other media reports, the Panama Maritime Authority has signed a six-month lobbying contract with the US Checkmate Government Relations to improve its relationship with the US government and the Trump team.
The Panamanian government has previously hired several US lobbying firms, but this is the first time the AMP has signed such a contract. The lobbying contract will take effect in May 2025, and the Panama Maritime Authority will pay $195,000 per month in lobbying fees.
According to reports, Ches McDowell, managing partner of Checkmate, and partners Fritz Vaughan and Ryan O’Dwyer will jointly be responsible for the AMP project. It is worth noting that Ches McDowell is a good friend of Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr. With this relationship, Checkmate has expanded its business to Washington.
President Trump has repeatedly and unreasonably accused China of “strategic influence on the ports of Balboa and Cristobal managed by Hutchison Whampoa and the Panama Canal” and vowed to “take back” control.
President Trump has repeatedly and unreasonably accused China of “strategic influence on the ports of Balboa and Cristobal managed by CK Hutchison and the Panama Canal” and vowed to “take back” control.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth both visited Panama recently, and during Hegseth’s visit, the two sides also signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation and military assistance to Panama “for the security of the Panama Canal.”
On March 4, 2025, CK Hutchison Holdings announced that it had reached a principle agreement with three US companies (namely the BlackRock-TiL consortium) to acquire 80% of CK Hutchison Ports, including the two ports of the Panama Canal that have attracted widespread attention recently. The total value of the overall sale is US$22.8 billion, and it is expected to bring in more than US$19 billion in cash proceeds.
Specifically, CK Hutchison will sell 90% of its Panama Ports Company (PPC) to the BlackRock-TiL consortium. PPC owns and operates two ports in Balboa and Cristobal, Panama. The two ports have been operated by CK Hutchison since 1997 and renewed their 25-year concession in 2021. If the transaction is completed, the BlackRock-TiL consortium will actually control about 10.4% of the world’s container terminal throughput, ranking among the world’s top three port operators.
CK Hutchison’s move has drawn widespread attention. Chinese state media outlets have successively spoken out, directly pointing out the hegemonic nature of the U.S. actions. Faced with the United States’ tightening strategic containment, the Chinese government has spoken out to express its position.
On March 18 and 27, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokespersons Mao Ning and Guo Jiakun both emphasized at regular press conferences that China has always firmly opposed the use of economic coercion and bullying to infringe upon and undermine the legitimate rights and interests of other countries.
On March 28, the head of the Anti-Monopoly Department II of the State Administration for Market Regulation said that we have noticed this transaction and will review it in accordance with the law to protect fair competition in the market and safeguard the public interest.
In response to reactions from all parties, CK Hutchison issued an announcement on March 31, declaring that “the board of directors has not made a decision on any transaction related to the company’s global telecommunications business, and it is currently uncertain whether any transaction will be carried out.”
On April 27, the State Administration for Market Regulation announced that all parties to the CK Hutchison’s port transaction must not take any measures to circumvent antitrust review.
On May 6, during a regular press conference hosted by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian, he responded to a media question about “CK Hutchison Holdings being allowed to sell ports outside the Panama Canal”: This report is unfounded. I would like to reiterate that the State Administration for Market Regulation has expressed that it is paying close attention to the relevant transaction and will conduct a review in accordance with the law. The parties to the transaction shall not take any means to evade the review. Before approval, the concentration shall not be implemented, otherwise they will bear legal responsibility. The Chinese government will resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests in accordance with the law and maintain market fairness and justice. Corporate business behavior should comply with relevant laws and should not harm national interests.
On May 12, CK Hutchison announced again that the port transaction would never be carried out under any illegal or non-compliant circumstances: “The completion of the transaction is subject to the fulfillment of a series of conditions, including the consent and approval of legal and regulatory authorities, the absence of illegal or legal prohibitions, the necessary approval of the company’s shareholders, and other appropriate and routine conditions agreed in the final documents.”
On May 22, CK Hutchison reiterated that “CK Hutchison’s port transaction needs to go through a lot of review, and CK Hutchison will fully cooperate. We will never implement it before approval is obtained.”
The spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce also said that the relevant departments have issued statements many times, emphasizing that the sale of ports by Cheung Kong Holdings will be reviewed in accordance with the law to protect fair market competition and safeguard the public interest; the parties to the transaction shall not circumvent the review in any way, and shall not implement the concentration before approval, otherwise they will bear legal responsibility. It is hoped that the relevant enterprises will maintain a clear understanding of this and act prudently.
The spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce also said that the relevant departments have issued statements many times, emphasizing that the sale of ports by CK Hutchison Holdings will be reviewed in accordance with the law to protect fair market competition and safeguard the public interest; the parties to the transaction shall not circumvent the review in any way, and shall not implement the concentration before approval, otherwise they will bear legal responsibility. It is hoped that the relevant enterprises will maintain a clear understanding of this and act prudently.