China Delays $23 Billion Panama Ports Sale with Antitrust Probe

The Chinese regulator's investigation stalls CK Hutchison's sale of strategic Panama Canal ports to a U.S.-led consortium, intensifying U.S.-China tensions.

• China's State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has launched an antitrust investigation into CK Hutchison's planned sale of two Panama Canal ports to a BlackRock-led consortium.
• The signing of the $23 billion deal, originally scheduled for April 2, has been postponed due to the investigation, leaving the transaction in uncertainty.
• The ports are part of a broader sale of 43 ports in 23 countries, a move seen by the U.S. as a strategy to curb Chinese influence in the Panama Canal region.
• Chinese officials and state media have criticized the deal as a betrayal of national interests, raising concerns about Hong Kong's reputation as a global financial hub.
• The Panama Canal, a critical trade route handling 4% of global maritime trade and 40% of U.S. container traffic, underscores the geopolitical stakes of the transaction.

8 Articles

Sourcing Journal CNN South China Morning Post South China Morning Post CNA Semafor