Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau started his 6-day long visit to China with the currently most important issue in the trade relations between two countries: place of Canada-grown canola in China. The virtual quarantine for Canadian product could jeopardise exports worth CA$2 billion each year.
"In our agriculture, we use high-quality products and we create high-quality products and goods," said Trudeau at the Chinese Entrepreneur Club in Beijing, China, shortly after arrival. While he did not explicitly mention the variant of rapeseed, he was making sure that this year's crop would find its way into its huge market for the commodity.
Chinese claim they merely try to prevent the spread of blackleg disease from Canadian canola into Chinese crops, and demand that there is no more than 1% of foreign matter per canola shipment.
Trudeau's formal host at the event Jack Ma of Alibaba Group (both pictured) was keeping the conversation at a lighter note. Canadian prime minister's visit to China continues with meeting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday.
Image: Beta / Canadian Press / AP
