Cobre Panama is a copper mine that, while functioning, was responsible for 5% of Panama's GDP. Copper is Panama's biggest export, and the primary purchaser of Panamanian copper is China.
In 2023 the mine was shuttered for two reasons:
1) A protracted disagreement between the Canadian mining company (First Quantum) and the Panamanian government over the mine's operations (e.g. revenue sharing, tax conditions, worker wages), which led to the government reneging on the agreement.
2) SUNTRACs, one of Panamas leading trade unions was excluded from labor involving the mine's construction which prompted them to engage in the blocking of ports and disrupting the mines' operations.
Eventually, the government and First Quantum settled on an agreement, but the Panama Supreme Court ruled that the revenue-sharing agreement between First Quantum and Panama was "unconstitutional". First Quantum is now seeking $20B in international arbitration and has asked for US and Canadian government involvement in the arbitration.