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Canada welcomes any U.S. help on dispute with China, says rural minister

May 7, 2019 | 2:05 AM

OTTAWA — A Nova Scotia cabinet minister says the federal government would welcome any help the United States could offer in helping Canada in its ongoing dispute with China.

Rural Economic Development Minister Bernadette Jordan tells The Canadian Press that American influence could make a difference as tensions between the countries escalate.

China has suspended Canadian imports of pork and canola from two Canadian companies each, following the December arrest of Huawei Technologies executive Meng Wanzhou on a U.S. warrant alleging she committed fraud.

A senior Canadian official, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the issue, said Canada is working with all allies, including the U.S., to pressure China.

But the official stressed that has always been the case and does not represent a shift in strategy.

Jordan says the world has changed in the four years since the last federal election, and that the government continues to try to seek out new trading opportunities to offset the situation with China.

The Canadian Press