Canada orders China to divest from country’s mining companies

Canada has extensive, largely undeveloped deposits of nickel and cobalt and Chinese companies have made up a growing share of foreign investment in the industry. Photograph: Mathieu Belanger/Reuters

Canada has ordered China to immediately sell its holdings in three Canadian mining companies, as the need for investments in the extraction of critical minerals clashes with growing concerns over national security.

On Wednesday Canada’s industry minister, François-Philippe Champagne, said three Chinese companies would be required to divest from junior mining companies.