The Supreme Court of Panama unanimously annulled the contract that entrusted a subsidiary of the Hong Kong group CK Hutchison with the management of the ports of Balboa and Cristóbal, located at the ends of the Canal. Ports under reviewThe court’s ruling also casts doubt on a $23 billion deal that had planned to sell the port terminals to a consortium led by BlackRock. Authorities will also have to decide whether the Panama Canal Authority, the state operator, will temporarily manage the terminals until final assignment. Geopolitical impact and reduced Chinese influenceControl of the Balboa and Cristóbal ports has long been a focal point in regional geopolitical tensions. Today, the Canal remains vital for international trade, with millions of tons of goods transiting annually between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.