Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison seeks Chinese investor to join Panama Ports deal

HONG KONG (AP) — A Hong Kong conglomerate that’s selling ports at the Panama Canal said Monday it may seek a Chinese investor to join a consortium of buyers, a move that could please Beijing but bring more U.S. scrutiny to the geopolitically fraught deal.

CK Hutchison Holdings’ initial plan to sell its port assets to a group that includes U.S. investment firm BlackRock Inc. pleased President Donald Trump, who has alleged that China interferes with the critical shipping lane’s operations in Panama.