Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun confirmed that Chinese authorities took note of the transaction in question and are conducting a legal review of the case “to protect the fair competition in the market and safeguard public interests.”

Gui stated, “I would like to reiterate that China has always firmly opposed any actions that use economic coercion or abusive practices to violate or harm the legitimate rights and interests of other countries.”

Officials noted that this review is part of Beijing’s efforts to ensure that major trade transactions comply with domestic and international regulations.

After US President Donald Trump’s threats, the BlackRock-TiL-led consortium reached an agreement in principle for purchasing Panama Ports Company (PPC), attached to the Hong Kong-based conglomerate CK Hutchison Port Holdings Ltd.

The Panamanian government affirmed that the sale by a Chinese company to a US company of two ports in the Panama Canal is a deal “between private companies.”

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