Panama says could retaliate against France over blacklisting

PANAMA CITY: Panama could retaliate after France announced it would put the Central American nation back on its blacklist of uncooperative tax jurisdictions, a top Panamanian official said on Tuesday, amid a major leaks scandal.

Alvaro Aleman, Panama´s presidential chief of staff, told a news conference the government could respond with similar measures against France, or any other country that follows France´s lead.

He added the country was ready to cooperate in any investigations stemming from the leaks, but stressed no Panamanian company has yet been found to have committed a crime.