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 State Administration for Market Regulation said that it was aware of the deal and would “review it" to safeguard public and national interest

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department said on Friday it was "not surprised" that China would be upset by Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison's (0001.HK) deal to sell its two port operations near the Panama Canal to a BlackRock-led group, after China's market regulator said it would conduct an antitrust review of the deal.