Washington on Friday welcomed a Panamanian court ruling cancelling a contract held by a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings to operate two ports along the Panama Canal, a decision seen as a boost to the United States’ efforts to counter Chinese influence in the western hemisphere.
The reaction came as Panama’s government sought to reassure workers and investors on the ground that trade and jobs would not be affected.
“The United States is encouraged by the recent Panamanian…