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4w ago

Chinese Antitrust Probe Delays Sale of Strategic Panama Canal Ports

The $23 billion deal led by BlackRock faces uncertainty as Beijing intensifies scrutiny, escalating U.S.-China tensions over global trade infrastructure.

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A cargo ship waits at Balboa port before crossing the Panama Canal in Panama City on February 4,2025.
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Overview

  • China's State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) officially launched an antitrust investigation into the sale of two Panama Canal ports by CK Hutchison to a U.S.-led consortium.
  • The signing of the Panama Canal portion of the $23 billion global ports deal, originally set for April 2, has been postponed, with no new timeline confirmed.
  • The Panama Canal, a vital trade route handling 4% of global maritime trade and 40% of U.S. container traffic, underscores the strategic importance of the disputed ports.
  • Washington views the sale as a move to reduce Chinese influence in the region, while Beijing criticizes the deal as harmful to its national interests.
  • Despite delays in the Panama Canal portion, the broader $23 billion transaction involving 43 global ports is expected to proceed on an expedited basis.