Panama
Cocaine barons switch to trafficking via Turkey after heavy seizures on direct-to-Europe route
Extent of new smuggling indicated by seizure of seven vessels owned by Turks carrying drugs worth $10bn.
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Latin America faces investment drought as fiscal space shrinks, ECLAC says
ECLAC report highlights the region's struggle with low public investment amid mounting debt pressures.
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Panama tightens ship registry rules to combat Russian sanctions-evading fleet
Panama has moved to impose stricter rules on ship-to-ship (STS) oil transfers in response to growing international scrutiny over its role in facilitating sanctions evasion.
COMMENT: China and Latin America forge ‘shared future’ as US wields coercive diplomacy
China hosted Latin American leaders at the China-CELAC Forum, pledging $9.2bn and deeper ties. As US influence fades, Beijing’s “shared future” vision gains ground, fueling a shift in global alliances and challenging Washington’s dominance.
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Latin American EV market accelerates threefold in 2024
The number of light electric vehicles in Latin America and the Caribbean saw a dramatic surge last year, tripling in size from 154,966 registered units at the end of 2023 to 444,071 vehicles by December 2024, according to data from Olade.
CK Hutchison stresses legal compliance in Panama port sale amid US-China tensions
Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison has reiterated that its planned sale of major global port assets, including key terminals at the Panama Canal, will move forward only under strict legal and regulatory compliance.
China woos Latin America with $9bn credit line amid Trump trade tensions
China has offered Latin American and Caribbean countries a CNY66bn ($9.2bn) credit line as part of a comprehensive economic and political cooperation package presented during the CELAC-China summit in Beijing.
ECLAC cuts Latin America growth forecast amid global uncertainties
The UN's Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) has downgraded its 2025 growth forecast to 2%, adding to a chorus of international institutions painting a bleak outlook for the region.
Panama’s Mulino rules out mining law in bid to restart First Quantum project
Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino has signalled a shift in strategy for the future of the country’s largest copper operation, the Cobre Panamá mine, while rejecting any path that would require legislative approval for a new mining contract.
LatAm set to be world's slowest-growing region as World Bank slashes forecasts
Economic expansion for region projected to be slowest globally as external pressures mount
Latin American leaders blast US tariffs at CELAC summit as China offers economic lifeline
Latin American leaders gathered in Honduras on April 9 to condemn United States trade measures during the ninth summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).
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US-China rivalry deepens over Panama Canal as Washington pushes new security pact
The Panama Canal is once again at the centre of geopolitical tension, as the United States increases pressure to counter China’s influence in the region.
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Why investors are turning their gaze to Latin America after Trump tariffs
Trump's trade war unexpectedly boosts Latin America, with investors spotting fresh opportunities in a reshuffled global economic landscape.
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US defence chief's Panama visit heightens pressure over Chinese canal influence
The Panama Canal has once again become the focus of geopolitical friction, as the US escalates diplomatic and strategic pressure on Panama over what it claims is growing Chinese influence around the critical waterway.
Latin America to miss more than three-quarters of 2030 sustainability targets, ECLAC says
The region's progress on UN goals is hampered by weak institutions and debt burden, warns UN commission in a new report.
Latin America escapes full wrath of Trump's tariffs, as few nations bear brunt
Most regional economies hit with baseline 10% rate while Venezuela, Nicaragua and Guyana face steeper levies.
Beijing blocks BlackRock's Panama port deal amid US-China tensions
The proposed sale of two key Panamanian ports by Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison to a consortium led by BlackRock has hit a roadblock, as China exerts pressure to halt the deal.
Panama revokes 128 ship registrations in crackdown on Russia and Iran’s shadow fleet carrying oil
Panama has intensified its crackdown on sanctioned vessels by revoking the registration of 128 ships, a move primarily targeting the "shadow fleet" facilitating oil exports from Russia and Iran.
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IMF: How Artificial Intelligence can boost productivity in Latin America
Latin America and the Caribbean has long been a region with one of the most informal labour markets. A large part of the workforce is outside of the formal economy, leaving many people without access to benefits and protections.
US escalates pressure on Panama over Canal control
The US is reportedly intensifying diplomatic and military manoeuvres to challenge Panama's sovereignty over the Panama Canal, with Washington drafting contingency plans that range from increased military cooperation to potential invasion.