Panama to Pilot US$50 Million Pax Silica Chip Tracker as Its Companies Lead Region in Layoffs
The United States has tendered up to US$50 million for a semiconductor traceability platform that Panama will pilot on its canal, while a Konzerta study says 86 percent of Panamanian companies laid off staff in the first half of 2026. The post Panama to Pilot US$50 Million Pax Silica Chip Tracker as Its Companies Lead Region in Layoffs appeared first on The Rio Times .
Panama is set to pilot a US$50 million semiconductor traceability platform, dubbed Pax Silica, aimed at tracking the origin and journey of shipments through the Panama Canal. The system, developed under a US-led initiative, will serve as a digital passport for electronic components, simplifying customs clearance for vetted cargo.
The canal, which handles 5 percent of global maritime trade, lies at the heart of US-China tensions over technology supply chains. However, the initiative comes amid a stark contrast in Panama's labor market, where 86 percent of companies reportedly conducted layoffs in the first half of 2026, the highest rate among surveyed nations.
Unemployment rose to 10.4 percent, with 41 percent of firms planning additional cuts. Despite these challenges, Panama joins a coalition of 24 signatories, including the European Union, Japan, India, and Singapore, in advancing secure supply chains for critical minerals, energy, advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, and AI infrastructure.
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