Panama's Supreme Court last month invalidated Hutchison's contract following repeated threats from President Donald Trump that the United States would seek to reclaim the waterway, which he claimed was controlled by China.

Following that decision, Panama announced that the Danish company Maersk would take over operation of the Balbao and Cristobal ports on either side of the canal. CK Hutchison threatened legal action over the move.

"We request that there be a roundtable discussion between CK Hutchison and representatives of the executive branch to seek a reasonable solution," said Alejandro Kouruklis, spokesperson for the Hutchison subsidiary that operates the ports, in an interview on Radio Red on Thursday.

jjr/axm/nn/aha/dw

A.P. MOELLER-MAERSK