Chinese stops purchase of Canadian canola seeds

China has stopped all new purchases of Canadian canola seeds in what some see as retaliation for Canada's arrest of a top executive of Chinese tech giant Huawei. The Canola Council of Canada said late Thursday that exporters are reporting Chinese importers are unwilling to purchase the seeds at this time.

Relations between both countries have been tense since Canada arrested Chinese tech executive Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver in early December at the request of the US. US prosecutors have filed fraud charges against Meng, who is Huawei's chief financial officer and the daughter of its founder.

China has warned of "grave consequences" if Meng is not immediately released. On December 10, it arrested two Canadians in an apparent attempt to pressure the government of Justin Trudeau.