The Chinese Embassy in Ottawa said in a statement that the move follows Chinese customs inspectors’ detection of residue from a restricted feed additive, called ractopamine, in a batch of Canadian pork products.
It is permitted in Canada but banned in China.
‘‘China has taken urgent preventive measures and requested the Canadian government to suspend the issuance of certificates for meat exported to China,’’ the statement said.
Meng Wanzhou, the Huawei chief financial officer and daughter of the company’s founder, was arrested in Canada on December 1, at the request of US authorities, who want to try her on fraud charges.
China then detained two Canadians and sentenced another to death in an apparent attempt to pressure for her release.
The latest action against Canada comes as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau heads to Japan for the G-20 summit.
US President Donald Trump is expected to meet with his Chinese counterpart amid trade talks.
Justine Lesage, a spokeswoman for Canada’s agriculture minister, said in a statement that the Canadian Food and Inspection Agency identified an issue involving inauthentic export certificates that could affect the export of pork and beef products to China.
She said the agency has ‘‘taken measures to address this issue and is continuing to work closely with industry partners and Chinese officials’’.
Last year, Canada’s pork exports to China were worth about 500million Canadian dollars, or about $380million Australian.
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