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The Panama Maritime Authority has agreed to pay a $195K monthly fee to Trump-tied Checkmate Government Relations to facilitate outreach to US officials and decision makers.
It is responsible for overseeing Panama's extensive shipping registry and ports.
Blackrock in March announced a $23B deal to acquire the Panama Canal ports of Balboa and Cristobal and dozens of other across the world from Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison.
The PMA is reviewing that transaction.
Checkmate managing partner Ches McDowell, a good friend of Donald Trump, Jr., handles PMA with partners Fritz Vaughan and Ryan O’Dwyer. The firm’s six-month contract began May 1.
President Trump has vowed to “take back” the canal, which handles 40 percent of US container traffic, that he claims "we foolishly gave away."
Gunster Strategies Worldwide is representing the interests of the Chagossian Government in Exile, which opposes the planned UK transfer of the sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago, which hosts the joint UK/US military base, to Mauritius.
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck has inked a six-month agreement with NATO-member Iceland to provide strategic advice on how to navigate engagements with the US government.
BGR Government Affairs has a $1M contract to provide strategic guidance and PR representation to the Republic of Guinea.
The Japan External Trade Organization has hired DB3, the legacy firm of Senate Majority Leaders Tom Daschle and Howard Baker, for a comprehensive report assessing the "current state of play" in DC.
BGR Group has a six-month $900K pact to boost US-Nigerian relations. Nigeria's top oil and gas field supplier is funding the effort.
