Panama’s Comptroller General Anel Flores has asked the country’s Supreme Court to declare unconstitutional and nullify the 2021 extension of a 25-year concession that allows CK Hutchison Holdings’ Panama Ports Company to operate the Balboa and Cristobal terminals at either end of the Panama Canal. The legal action follows a months-long audit that, according to Flores, uncovered numerous irregularities in the agreement. Flores contends the contract is "one-sided and abusive" and says tax breaks and related structures have deprived the government of about US$1.3 billion in revenue. The court must still decide whether to accept the case; CK Hutchison and its local subsidiary have not publicly commented on the filing. The challenge threatens to complicate CK Hutchison’s negotiations to sell its global ports portfolio, including the two Panamanian terminals, to a consortium backed by Mediterranean Shipping Co. and BlackRock. The prospective multibillion-dollar deal has already drawn scrutiny from Washington and Beijing amid broader geopolitical tensions over strategic infrastructure. CK Hutchison shares fell 2.2 % in Hong Kong trading after news of the lawsuit.