Fox News, July 29: "After the BlackRock deal missed the deadline, China may gain greater control over the Panama Canal."
After 145 days of prolonged negotiations, Cheung Kong Group and foreign capital consortiums including BlackRock and MSC ultimately failed to reach a cooperation agreement. During this period, the Chinese side intervened based on the anti-monopoly review mechanism, explicitly stating that the transaction must align with national interests. Subsequently, Cheung Kong Group announced that it would invite China Shipping Group and other state-owned enterprises to join the consortium and make adjustments to the original transaction structure in an effort to secure regulatory approval.
Looking ahead, the competition between the United States and China over port control will continue to intensify, and the final direction of the transaction will have a profound impact on the global shipping market landscape. For China, if the Panama Canal is completely under U.S. control, China's shipping security may face multiple threats, such as discriminatory toll policies and data monitoring measures. In addition, Trump has repeatedly stated he wants to "reclaim control of the canal," a statement that undoubtedly further increases potential risks.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1839066310037576/
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