On 16 May, the Chinese government announced that they have formally arrested two Canadian nationals – Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor – who have been detained for over five months, on charges of violating state secrets. This marks the latest development in the highly politicised cases of Kovrig, Spavor and Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou, which have led to an atmosphere of elevated tensions between China and Canada in recent months. As Beijing seeks to exert pressure on Ottawa, Canadian companies operating in China are facings risks ranging from arbitrary detentions of staff to enhanced inspections and customs delays.

Key points include:

• The latest development in the cases of Meng, Kovrig and Spavor

 We hope you enjoy the podcast and welcome questions and feedback. Please get in touch at [email protected]