Part 12/15:

China’s state-owned shipping giant, China COSCO Shipping, has demanded a controlling stake in a consortium led by BlackRock and Mediterranean Shipping Co. (MSC), which acquired over 40 ports from Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison Holdings earlier this year—encompassing facilities near the Panama Canal, including the ports of Balboa and Cristóbal.

This deal, valued at approximately $22.8 billion, was hailed by U.S. President Donald Trump as a win for national security, citing concerns over Chinese influence over the canal—a critical artery for international trade, with over 40% of U.S. container traffic passing through it.