Canada to Trump administration: Don’t play politics with Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou extradition case

WASHINGTON – Canada’s foreign minister warned top Trump administration officials on Friday not to politicize the pending extradition of Chinese technology executive Meng Wanzhou. 

“Canada understands the rule of law and extradition ought not ever to be politicized or used as tools to resolve other issues,” Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s foreign affairs minister, told reporters after a closed-door meeting with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defense James Mattis. 

Freeland was alluding to President Donald Trump’s suggestion earlier this week that he might intervene in Meng’s case if it would help resolve the bitter trade war between the U.S. and China. Canada arrested Meng based on an extradition request from the Trump administration. The Department of Justice has accused her of secretly selling equipment to Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions.

Meng’s detention was a flashpoint during Friday’s high-level meeting, which was supposed to focus on the longstanding diplomatic and security alliance between the U.S. and its northern neighbor. The session also included Mattis’ Canadian counterpart, Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan.

The four officials held a joint news conference after the closed-door talks. While they all said the meeting focused on the strong U.S.-Canadian alliance, the Meng matter clearly caused some tension.

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