There was never a question that CK Hutchison’s sale of its Panama Canal port assets to a BlackRock-led consortium might face backlash from China. The deal helped its owner, Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing,

China's market regulator said in a statement on Friday it will review Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison's deal to sell its two port operations near the Panama Canal to a BlackRock-led group in accordance with law to protect fair competition and safeguard public interests.

By Alek Buttermann The proposed sale of two key Panamanian ports by Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison to a consortium led by BlackRock has hit a roadblock, as China exerts pressure to halt the deal. The agreement,