US official discusses Panama Canal-related audit with Panamanian minister

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau discussed on Friday with Panama's Foreign Minister Javier Martinez-Acha the importance of an ongoing audit of Hutchison’s management of concessions of two ports at either end of the Panama Canal, the State Department said in a readout of their conversation.

Though the canal itself is operated by Panama, the two ports on either side are run by publicly listed Hong Kong company CK Hutchinson, while other ports nearby are operated by private companies from the United States, Singapore and Taiwan.