The Panama ports deal is delayed, as China signals dissent
Xi Jinping may be wanting to increase leverage over America
It was never going to be a simple transaction. But the deal hailed by Donald Trump as a way to regain American control of the Panama Canal seems to get more complicated by the week. BlackRock, an American investment firm, was scheduled to sign an agreement on April 2nd to buy 43 ports, including two in Panama, from ck Hutchison (ckh), their Hong Kong-based operator. That signing has now been postponed, even though both sides suggest the deal is still on.
Explore more
This article appeared in the China section of the print edition under the headline “Taking on water”
From the April 5th 2025 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents
Explore the edition
Why are Chinese soldiers fighting in Ukraine?
They have been showing up on both sides of the battlefield throughout the war
China’s shoemakers seem more sanguine than its politicians
A trade war will cause a lot of damage, but many have weathered storms before
To secure exports to Europe, China reconfigures its rail links
A new line will bypass its best friend, Russia
China has a thriving black market for personal data
The surveillance state is good at collecting information but bad at keeping it safe
China could greatly reduce its reliance on coal. It probably will not
Even though solar and wind power are growing at a blistering pace