China Holds Talks with Maersk and MSC amid Panama Port Dispute and Global Shipping Concerns

China’s Ministry of Transport of the People’s Republic of China has confirmed it held talks with global shipping giants A.P. Moller–Maersk and Mediterranean Shipping Company in Beijing, a development that has sparked speculation about rising geopolitical tensions in the global maritime industry.

In a brief notice, the ministry said it conducted separate meetings on March 9 with officials from both shipping companies regarding their international shipping operations, without providing further details.

Talks Follow Panama’s Seizure of Hutchison Port Terminals

The discussions come after the government of Panama annulled a concession held by CK Hutchison Holdings and took control of the company’s port operations in Port of Balboa and Port of Cristobal, two strategic terminals located at opposite ends of the Panama Canal.

Following the seizure, Panama transferred temporary operational control of the terminals to companies linked to Maersk and MSC. The government split the operations between the two global shipping operators, granting 18-month temporary contracts while it prepares to reopen the concessions for international bidding.

Panama also assumed control of port equipment and operational assets to ensure that both terminals continued operating. Authorities later reported that the ports returned to full operations within days of the takeover.

China Criticizes Panama’s Actions Against Hutchison

Officials in Beijing and Hong Kong, where CK Hutchison is headquartered, have strongly criticized the court ruling and Panama’s decision to take control of the terminals.

Chinese authorities have warned that the situation raises serious concerns about investment security and legal protections for international companies operating in Panama. Beijing has also stated that it will defend the legal rights and interests of Chinese companies involved in overseas port operations.

Hutchison Threatens Legal Action Over Port Takeover

CK Hutchison and its subsidiary Panama Ports Company, which previously operated the terminals, claim the takeover was the culmination of a political campaign against the company.

The company has alleged that inaccurate claims and misrepresentations were used during the dispute and has threatened legal action against companies that assumed control of its operations.

Following the ruling, Hutchison warned that it could pursue legal claims and financial damages against APM Terminals, the Maersk-owned terminal operator, if it moved forward with taking over the facilities.

International Arbitration and $2 Billion Claim

The dispute has now escalated into international arbitration. Panama Ports Company has filed a case seeking at least $2 billion in damages, while also requesting the return of documents and information seized by Panamanian authorities during the takeover.

At the same time, Hutchison has said it is open to negotiations to resolve the dispute with Panama’s government.

Geopolitical Tensions Impact Global Port Investments

The situation has triggered speculation that China could take further steps in response to the involvement of Maersk and MSC in the Panama port operations.

Reports also suggest that BlackRock and MSC are pushing to finalize a planned acquisition of CK Hutchison’s international port terminal portfolio. The deal was originally agreed upon a year ago but has faced delays due to growing geopolitical tensions between the United States and China.

Read More: CK Hutchison Suspends Panama Port Activities over ‘Unlawful’ Takeover Claim

Industry sources have indicated that negotiations may involve restructuring the portfolio, potentially allowing COSCO Shipping to take a leading role in terminals considered strategically important to China.

However, analysts say China’s dissatisfaction over the outcome in Panama could further complicate the sale and reshape the future ownership of key global port infrastructure and shipping logistics networks.