Panama Ports Company (PPC), a unit of Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison, said the government of the central American country failed to file its response ⁠by the March 13 deadline in an international arbitration brought by the company. PPC said the deadline was set by the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce and that Panama sought a partial extension, saying it was not ready to respond because it had not hired lawyers and needed time to prepare. The CK Hutchison unit made the arbitration move after Panama moved to unwind concession agreements ⁠that gave PPC control ⁠of the Balboa and Cristobal ports since 1997, following a court ruling in January that authorities said rendered the contracts unconstitutional. It said this month that it was seeking at least US$2 billion in damages. "Panama stated that it was not prepared and was not able to respond on time because it had not hired lawyers, was unfamiliar with the dispute, and needed time to develop a plan, to obtain a partial extension," PPC said in a statement on Monday. A country that respects foreign investors "does not disregard consultations and international dispute procedures", said the Hutchison unit. Panama had also failed to resolve the broader issues involved, it said, which "suggests that Panama may eventually simply invent and announce more unfounded attacks in arbitration". PPC ⁠also accused Panamanian authorities ‌of continuing to hold investor documents it says were improperly confiscated and denying it access ‌to its own files and computers. PPC said materials were taken at ⁠the ports and from a private document storage facility, alleging officials arrived without notice and accompanied by armed security forces. "Panama continues to disregard the rule of ‌law," PPC said, accusing the state of tolerating the "occupation, trespassing and confiscation" of PPC facilities and property and of disrupting port operations and suppliers, including Panamanian companies. Panama's maritime authority and the presidential ⁠office did not ‌immediately reply to requests for comment. On ‌Friday, PPC said it was continuing to co-ordinate with suppliers after Panama cancelled its contracts ‌for the Balboa and Cristobal ports. That same day, Panama's government said it hoped China's Cosco Shipping would reconsider its decision not to use Balboa after ⁠the multinational marine transportation service conglomerate notified clients that it had suspended operations at the port. The central American country has been caught up in broader tensions after US President Donald Trump last year claimed, without evidence, that China effectively runs the canal. CK Hutchison said this month it had also filed an administrative petition urging Panamanian officials to reconsider the executive action that "led to the occupation of facilities and confiscation of property". (Reuters & AFP) Edited by Thomas McAlinden