The Chinese State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has decided to verify the sale by the Hong Kong company CK Hutchison of two ports of the Panama Canal (Balboa and Cristobal) to a consortium of American investors led by BlackRock.

Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing is considering delaying the expected signing next week of a controversial deal to sell his Panama Canal ports to a consortium including BlackRock Inc., people with knowledge of the matter said.

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