WEB DESK
China has imposed a temporary ban on imports of canola from a major Canadian agribusiness firm. Observers suspect Beijing that it is meant to press Canada on the matter of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said on Wednesday that customs authorities took the measure following the discovery of harmful organisms in the product.
Canada’s media report that Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland opposes the move, saying the government does not believe there is any scientific basis for the decision.
But Lu argues that Canada should be able to understand that harmful organisms pose a serious threat to agricultural production and the ecosystem.
Chinese authorities detained some Canadians after the North American country arrested Meng, an executive of Chinese tech giant Huawei, at the request of the United States.
There is speculation that the detentions are in retaliation for Meng’s arrest.