China has stopped buying Canadian canola seed

40% of Canadian canola seed exports are bound for China, but not right now

Chinese importers are unwilling to purchase Canadian canola seed at the moment, the group that represents the industry in Canada says.

Earlier this month, Chinese customs authorities revoked the sales licence for a major Canadian canola supplier, Richardson International. Officials said the move was related to "dangerous pests" such as fungi in the crop, an allegation the company has strongly denied. 

But against the backdrop of escalating trade tensions with China, there was speculation that pushing back against a major Canadian crop was an attempt to send a political message.

Now it seems Richardson is not the only company being shut out of the Chinese market...

This has been excerpted from the 21 March 2019 edition of CBC News.