Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison has escalated its legal battle with Maersk by initiating arbitration proceedings in London. The move follows Panama's removal of CK's concession to operate two canal ports in January, a decision upheld by the country's top court as unconstitutional. Authorities awarded Maersk the operation of the Balboa port on the Pacific side, while MSC took over Cristóbal on the Atlantic. CK Hutchison's arbitration directly challenges Maersk's role in the Panamanian state campaign against its Panama Ports Company subsidiary.

The conglomerate is also pursuing a separate $2bn damages claim against Panamanian authorities. This legal escalation marks a significant intensification of CK's fight to reclaim its strategic canal port assets, previously part of a planned $23bn sale to a BlackRock-led consortium. That deal, which would have given BlackRock control of Panama Ports Company and majority ownership of CK's other ports to MSC, was derailed by Beijing's intervention. Maersk's involvement in the Panamanian port restructuring is now central to CK's legal strategy, underscoring the high stakes for global shipping and port operations in this critical chokepoint.