US, Allies Issue Joint Statement Backing Panama Against Chinas Economic Pressure

A bulk carrier and a cargo ship transit the Panama Canal in Panama City on March 12, 2026. Matias Delacroix/AP PhotoThe United States and five Latin American and Caribbean nations issued a joint statement on April 28 backing Panama over China’s retaliatory measures after the Central American nation terminated concessions held by Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison to operate two Panama Canal ports.In the statement, the United States, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Paraguay said they were closely monitoring what they described as China’s “economic pressure” targeting Panama and its actions affecting Panama-flagged vessels.