Panama and China have agreed to advance the renewal of their bilateral Maritime Transport Agreement following a visit by a high-level Panamanian delegation to Beijing on 16 and 17 July.
The delegation was led by Luis Roquebert, Administrator of the Panama Maritime Authority (PMA) and Minister of Maritime Affairs, and travelled following a request from the administration of Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino. The discussions addressed the increased inspection and detention of Panamanian-flagged vessels at Chinese ports.
Panama’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the two countries had “reached a consensus” and would “move forward with the renewal procedures” for the agreement, which is scheduled to expire this year.
The agreement grants Panamanian-flagged vessels preferential port tariffs and simplified administrative procedures at Chinese ports.
The talks followed concerns raised by Panama over a sharp increase in inspections and detentions amid wider tensions surrounding a Panamanian court ruling that invalidated the concession held by Panama Ports Company, a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison, to operate terminals at Balboa and Cristóbal.
Local media have reported that nearly 500 Panamanian-flagged vessels were detained for inspection in China during 2026. However, Acting Foreign Minister Carlos Hoyos said on 20 July that detention levels had since returned “to the historical level”.
Beyond the agreement’s renewal, the two sides exchanged technical criteria on port state control, with the stated aim of strengthening bilateral cooperation, promoting good practice and reinforcing navigational safety.
