Canada stops trade talks with China

OTTAWA — A trade agreement between Canada and China has been abandoned, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Francois Philippe-Champagne announced last month.

In making the announcement, Philippe-Champagne took a swipe at China’s “coercive diplomacy.”

He added that: “The China of 2020 is not the China of 2016. All the initiatives and the policies that had been put in place at the time – all that needs to be reviewed.”

He also said that: “We’re looking at all of them with the lens of China of 2020.”

China’s bribing and stealing of intellectual property around the world has become legendary. China is also holding two Canadians in prison in what many believe is retaliation for Canada’s house arrest of Meng Wanzhou, the chief financial officer of the Huwei telecommunications company. She was arrested because of an extradition order from the United States. She is charged with fraud.

China is also creating islands in the China sea to ramp up military installations and has seized control over Hong Kong.

Champagne added that Canada’s first priority is to bring home Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, who were charged in China with espionage and are in prison.

Chinese media have reported that Meng’s freedom is more important than free trade between the two nations.