Panama Completes Ports Departure: United States Celebrates Ruling on Ports

The United States ambassador to Panama, Kevin Marino Cabrera, expressed his country’s support for the transition in the operation of the Balboa and Cristóbal ports, which will pass from Panama Ports Company to temporary concessions under Maersk and MSC.  “We support the government of Panama… this is a state governed by the rule of law, this was a decision of the Panamanian Court and we, for our part, think it is very good for the people of Panama ,” the diplomat stated, referring to the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ) ruling that declared Law 5 of 1997 unconstitutional.  Cabrera emphasized that this was a decision made by an independent body. 

“We support the people of Panama and their right to have their judicial system make its own decisions, as they have done in this case,” he reiterated.  In his remarks, the ambassador also questioned the performance of the previous operators. “Obviously, they were operators who weren’t doing a good job; we’ve already issued a statement several times,” he noted, alluding to previous pronouncements by the U.S. delegation.  When asked about potential threats of arbitration or legal action against Panama by China following the court decision,

Cabrera declined to elaborate on the matter.  “Look, I have no comment on that. What I can tell you is that, again, the courts of Panama made their decision; they are an independent body, and we, for our part, always support democracy and the independence of the judicial system in all countries, including our own,” he responded.  The diplomat’s statements come amid the port transition process promoted by the Panamanian government, which contemplates temporary concessions for up to 18 months while a new permanent contract is structured and tendered for both terminals, considered strategic for international trade.