U.S. Department of State
04/02/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/02/2026 08:30
Support for Panama’s Sovereignty
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Support for Panama's Sovereignty
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.
U.S. Department of State published this content on April 02, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on April 02, 2026 at 14:30 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]