China warns Canada against siding with US in trade war

China’s foreign ministry issued a statement Friday warning Canada’s government against working with the Trump administration in its trade fight with Beijing.

Foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang warned Canada of the “consequences” of such an alliance with the U.S. on trade issues Friday at a press conference, urging Canada’s government not to inflict “more harm” on itself, Reuters reported.

{mosads}“We hope that the Canadian side will come to understand the full consequences of pulling chestnuts from the fire on behalf of the United States, and not inflict more harm on themselves,” Geng said, according to Reuters.

His comments come as Canada has been in discussions with the U.S. over the potential extradition of Meng Wanzhou, Huawei’s CFO, to the United State, where she faces fraud charges. Meng was arrested in December by Canadian authorities. She is facing bank and wire fraud charges in the U.S., and Huawei is facing charges of violating U.S. sanctions on Iran.

Her arrest was quickly followed by the detainment of two Canadian businessmen in China, Reuters reported, which Canada’s government has denounced as arbitrary.

Trump has also floated using Huawei as a bargaining chip in trade negotiations between the U.S. and China.

Trade talks have stalled, leading Trump to hit China with a new round of massive tariffs.

The Trump administration has defended the actions, which critics have said will affect U.S. consumers, by arguing that it will add pressure to China at the negotiating and boost U.S. manufacturing jobs.

“Their is no reason for the U.S. Consumer to pay the Tariffs, which take effect on China today,” President Trump tweeted earlier this month, adding: “The Tariffs can be completely avoided if you by from a non-Tariffed Country, or you buy the product inside the USA (the best idea). That’s Zero Tariffs.”