CK Hutchison Seeks $1.5 Billion in Damages From Panama Over Seized Ports

Hong Kong-listed conglomerate CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd. has launched international arbitration against the Panamanian government, seeking more than $1.5 billion in compensation for alleged violations of an investment protection treaty, according to a Thursday statement.

The move introduces a new legal front in a battle over operating rights of two major container terminals along the Panama Canal. The dispute began last year and intensified after the Trump administration pressured Panama to wrest control from the China-linked operator.