China boosts crude oil, LNG imports from Canada as Ottawa-Washington relations sour

China sharply increased its imports of crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Canada in August amid an escalating trade dispute between Ottawa and Washington. The country’s imports of Russian energy products also rose sharply last month, as geopolitical risks including war in Iran accelerated Beijing’s efforts to diversify its energy supplies. Customs data released on Sunday showed that the volume of China’s crude oil imports from Canada rose nearly 35 per cent year on year in August,...