Name: BlackRock to Buy Panama Canal Ports from Hong Kong Firm
Uploaded: 2025-03-05T10:49:18.000Z
Description: A BlackRock-led consortium has reached an agreement to acquire two critical port operations in the Panama Canal from Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd.

Sam Wang is a Washington correspondent for NTD News based in Washington, D.C. Sam covers politics on Capitol Hill, and U.S.-China relations. 

Sam Wang

NTD Plus

News

News with integrity, from the United States and around the world. Focused reports and analyses that shed light on major issues the world deserves to know. NTD Evening News airs daily at 6 p.m. ET.

NTD Evening News

Citizens React to Socialist Trend Within Democratic Party

Fiona Ji is a reporter based at NTD's global headquarters in New York City, where she covers local news.

Fiona Ji

New State Department Report Describes Cuban Regime's Subversion in US

Cary Dunst is the news anchor for NTD Evening News. He is also the co-host of NTD Good Morning.


Cary Dunst

Communist Cuba’s 'Decade Long Project to Sow Discord within the US': Policy Analyst

Jack Bradley is a Washington correspondent for NTD News based in Washington, D.C. Jack previously anchored "NTD Newsroom" and worked as an assistant producer for the show. 

Jack Bradley

China's Persecution of Falun Gong Enters 27th Year

Dave Martin is NTD's Senior Sports Reporter and sports analyst. He also hosts "Data Hub" segments during NTD's special election coverage, "The Nation Decides."

Dave Martin

Lionel Messi’s Potential Retirement In Discussion

Christina Corona is a California-based reporter for NTD News. She primarily covers California news, politics, and entertainment.  

Christina Corona

Tennessee Sues Meta Over Teen Safety

Jackson Richman is a Washington correspondent for The Epoch Times. In addition to Washington politics, he covers the intersection of politics and sports/sports and culture. He previously was a writer at Mediaite and Washington correspondent at Jewish News Syndicate. His writing has also appeared in The Washington Examiner. He is an alum of George Washington University.

Jackson Richman

David Lam is a national correspondent based in California and a part-time anchor for "NTD Tonight." Before joining NTD he was a financial analyst.

David Lam

US News

Courts

Mexican Drug Kingpin Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada Sentenced in US to Life in Prison

Kelly McBride Ni is a news writer for NTD based in North Carolina. 


Kelly McBride Ni

Sean Marshall is a reporter based at NTD's global headquarters in New York City, primarily covering business and technology trends. 

Sean Marshall

US Army Veteran Arrested After Fire Set Outside New York ICE Offices

Jane Werrell is an international correspondent and anchor for NTD News based in London. Jane is a part-time anchor for "NTD UK News."

Jane Werrell

London Parade Marks 27 Years of Falun Gong Persecution

Chris Beers is an NTD News anchor and political correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Chris co-anchors "NTD News Today" weekdays at 10:00 am ET.

Chris Beers

US–Iran Conflict Could Flare up to Full Scale War at Any Time: Middle East Expert

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (July 20)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (July 19)

Arleen Richards is NTD's legal correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City, where she covers all major legal stories. Arleen holds a Doctor of Law (J.D.).


Arleen Richards

Full Episodes

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (July 18)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (July 17)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (July 16)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (July 15)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (July 14)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (July 13)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (July 12)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (July 11)

Tom Gantert is a reporter for The Epoch Times.

Tom Gantert

Melina Wisecup is NTD's congressional correspondent based in Washington, covering Capitol Hill and campaign politics.

Melina Wisecup

Politics

Executive Branch

Trump Uses Recent Speeches to Warn Americans of Resurging Communism

NTD+ is a streaming platform featuring exclusive programming, investigative news analysis, and award-winning documentaries.


NTD+

Shorts

Alleged Reflecting Pool Vandalism Caught on Video

Juliet Song is an international correspondent exclusively covering China news for NTD. She primarily contributes to NTD's "China in Focus," covering U.S.-China relations, the Chinese regime's human rights abuses, and domestic unrest inside China.

Juliet Song

Shows

Fast, compelling, first-hand news from China. China in Focus airs Monday–Friday at 9:30 p.m. ET.

China in Focus

2.8 Million People in China Evacuated Amid Typhoon Bavi

NTD Newsroom comprises teams of reporters, editors, and producers assigned to cover breaking news and other stories.


NTD Newsroom

News you can trust from the U.S. and around the world. Critical information and insight. We cover the stories that others don’t. NTD News Today airs Monday–Friday at 11 a.m. ET.

NTD News Today

Iran's Football Team Leaves Note of Friendship

Joseph Lord is a congressional reporter for The Epoch Times.


Joseph Lord

Congress

House Passes Legislation to Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent

The Associated Press is an American not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. 

The Associated Press

Sen. Lindsey Graham Likely Died After Aorta Tear, Medical Examiner Says

Jack Phillips is a breaking news reporter with 15 years experience who started as a local New York City reporter. Having joined The Epoch Times' news team in 2009, Jack was born and raised near Modesto in California's Central Valley. 

Jack Phillips

Andrew Thomas is a reporter for NTD News primarily covering business, the economy, and technology. 

Andrew Thomas

World News

Middle East

UN Maritime Group to Rescue 11,000 Sailors Stranded in Middle East

Mary Man is a writer for NTD. She has traveled around the world covering China, international news, and arts and culture.

Mary Man

China News

China Floods: Thousands at Risk After Multiple Dams Collapse in Guangxi

NTD Films

NTD+ Movies

The Unrestricted War

Ryan Morgan is a reporter for The Epoch Times focusing on military and foreign affairs. He was previously a news writer for NTD. 


Ryan Morgan

Iran

US, Iran Launch New Strikes; Trump Warns Ceasefire May Collapse

A BlackRock-led consortium has reached an agreement to acquire two critical port operations in the Panama Canal from Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd.

The deal, <a href="https://www.ckh.com.hk/en/media/press_each.php?id=3431">announced</a> on March 4, comes as President Donald Trump has openly expressed his concerns over Chinese influence in the region and his desire for the United States to regain control of the Panama Canal.

BlackRock, along with Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) and Terminal Investment Ltd., have reached an agreement with CK Hutchison to purchase 90 percent of Panama Ports Company, which owns and operates the Balboa and Cristobal ports—the two main maritime gateways at the Panama Canal’s Pacific and Atlantic entrances.

In addition to the Panama port assets, the deal also includes an 80 percent controlling interest in CK Hutchison’s global ports network, spanning 43 ports in 23 countries.

“This agreement is a powerful illustration of BlackRock and GIP’s combined platform and our ability to deliver differentiated investments for clients," BlackRock CEO Larry Fink said in a statement. "These world-class ports facilitate global growth."

The deal does not include Hutchison Port Holdings Trust, which operates ports in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and South China—meaning CK Hutchison retains its interest in those hubs.

“This Transaction is the result of a rapid, discrete but competitive process in which numerous bids and expressions of interest were received," Frank Sixt, co-managing director at CK Hutchison, said in a statement. "As a result, the Transaction valuation agreed in principle is compelling, and the Transaction is clearly in the best interest of our shareholders."

The $22.8 billion enterprise value deal will see BlackRock and its partners pay approximately $19 billion in cash for their stake. The acquisition is contingent on approval from Panama's government, as well as regulatory clearances and due diligence reviews.

While CK Hutchison said the deal is purely commercial, the timing aligns with Washington's growing scrutiny of Chinese-controlled infrastructure along global trade routes.

Before the announcement, media speculation suggested that Panama’s government was considering whether to cancel its contract with CK Hutchison to operate the Balboa and Cristobal ports, the very facilities now being sold to BlackRock.

The Panama Canal is a strategic chokepoint that plays a crucial role in U.S. military and economic interests, serving as a vital passage for warships and cargo between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Some experts warn that Chinese-controlled infrastructure on both ends of the canal has effectively given Beijing de facto control over the waterway, potentially violating the U.S.–Panama Neutrality Treaty and posing a national security risk.

Andrés Martínez-Fernández, a senior policy analyst at the Heritage Foundation, <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/article/decades-long-chinese-influence-in-panama-begins-to-unravel-5803662">warned</a> that China doesn’t need troops on the ground to disrupt the canal in a potential conflict over Taiwan.

"The canal is very vulnerable to any kind of sabotage," Martínez-Fernández previously told The Epoch Times. "We’re not talking about needing a [Chinese] warship in order to do that."

Each year, the Panama Canal handles $270 billion in cargo, representing 5 percent of global maritime trade, with more than 70 percent of that trade connected to U.S. ports. The canal was under U.S. control until 1999, when its sovereignty was transferred to Panama under a 1977 treaty signed by President Jimmy Carter.

The BlackRock-led acquisition marks a significant realignment in global port ownership, shifting control of two key hubs in one of the world’s most vital shipping corridors.

<em>Darlene McCormick Sanchez contributed to this report.</em>

<em>From <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/business/blackrock-to-buy-panama-canal-ports-for-22-8-billion-from-hong-kong-firm-5819804">The Epoch Times</a></em>

Latest

Videos

Business News

04_Top Stories

Latest Clips

International

Americas

Tom Ozimek is a senior reporter for The Epoch Times. He has a broad background in journalism, deposit insurance, marketing and communications, and adult education.

Tom Ozimek

Latest and breaking news, documentaries, movies, and lifestyle content on NTD+.
 
Empower your knowledge and elevate your spirit with NTD+, your go-to destination for truthful news, insightful documentaries, and captivating lifestyle content that enriches your life.

BlackRock to Buy Panama Canal Ports from Hong Kong Firm

Stefania Cox is an NTD News anchor and national correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Stefania anchors "NTD Newsroom," and co-anchors "NTD News Today" weekdays at 10:00 am ET.

Stefania Cox

We present news that is truthful and based on facts, outside of the political fog. Instead of focusing on the negative things happening around us, our mission is to give our viewers a good morning with empathetic and uplifting stories. Our aim is to provide an antidote to negativity by shining a light on the best side of people. We speak to inspiring people who positively impact communities, pursue topics that represent our common human values, and will never miss an opportunity to bring you heartwarming stories.

NTD Good Morning

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (July 21)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (July 20)

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (July 20)

Special Coverage

[LIVE July 23 at 11:30 AM ET] 2026 Rally and March to End the Persecution of Falun Dafa

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (July 17)

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (July 17)

Tiffany Meier is an anchor, China news investigative reporter, and producer for NTD News based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Tiffany anchors NTD's flagship shows "NTD Evening News" and "China in Focus" and co-moderates NTD's special election coverage "The Nation Decides." She produced the award-winning NTD Original documentary "Hollywood Takeover: China's Control in the Film Industry."


Tiffany Meier

NTD Special Coverage: Trump Addresses the Nation

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (July 16)

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (July 16)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (July 15)

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (July 15)

Kevin Hogan is an NTD News data reporter and national correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Kevin covers breaking news, as well as U.S. and global current events. He conveys the news through data visualizations and investigates pressing issues.