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.

Washington is unsurprised over Beijing’s discontent about plans by Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing’s CK Hutchison Holdings to sell its two Panama ports, the US State Department has said, after a Chinese market regulator revealed it will launch an antitrust investigation into the deal.

CK Hutchison Holdings (OTCPK:CKHUY) (OTCPK:CKHUF), the conglomerate controlled by Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing, won't be signing a deal on April 2 to divest its two ports in the Panama Canal, according to a media report.