OUTBREAK STALLS CANOLA TALKS

The coronavirus outbreak in China is affecting talks between Canada and China about Beijing ’s decision to block Canadian canola seed shipments, Agriculture Minister Marie Claude Bibeau said on Friday. China, angry at Canada’s detention of a top Huawei Technologies Co Ltd. executive in December 2018, blocked all imports of canola seed last March on the grounds they contained pests — a claim disputed by Canada. Speaking on a teleconference from Washington D.C., Bibeau told reporters the canola trade dispute with China remains a top priority for Canada, but noted Chinese capacity to discuss the issue had been constrained by the coronavirus outbreak. “We understand that they (Chinese officials) are not in a position to pursue technical discussions while they are facing such a huge challenge over there with the virus,” she said.