AsianFin -- Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings is considering bringing a Chinese investor into its proposed sale of Panama Canal port assets, a shift that could help ease Beijing’s concerns but risks heightening U.S. scrutiny of the politically sensitive transaction.
The company’s initial plan involved selling a large portion of its global port assets—including key terminals in Panama—to a consortium featuring U.S. investment giant BlackRock. While the move was seen as favorable to Washington, particularly under former President Donald Trump who raised alarms about Chinese influence in Panama, it reportedly triggered discontent in Beijing and prompted a review by China’s antitrust regulators.
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