The United States, alongside Bolivia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Paraguay, and Trinidad and Tobago, has issued a joint statement affirming support for Panama against what they describe as targeted economic pressure from China. This solidarity follows a landmark ruling by Panama's Supreme Court that ended a concession held by CK Hutchison, a Hong Kong-based firm, for managing the Balboa and Cristóbal terminals at either end of the Panama Canal. The ruling, which was influenced by American efforts to limit Chinese influence in the region, has led to allegations that China has retaliated by increasing inspections and detentions of Panama-flagged vessels in Chinese ports. The joint statement condemns these actions as a threat to Panama's sovereignty and emphasizes the nation's critical role in global maritime trade, which sees around five percent of worldwide traffic passing through the canal. The six nations reaffirmed their commitment to protecting regional trade and maintaining the Americas as a region of freedom and prosperity.