BEIJING, CHINA — China has canceled Richardson International Ltd.’s registration to ship canola to China, according to a March 5 report from Reuters.

According to Reuters, a document listing approved exporters posted on the website of the Chinese Customs Administration on March 1 shows a note beside the entry for Richardson International that reads, “Canola export registration already canceled.”

It wasn’t immediately clear why Richardson’s exports into China, the world’s top importer of canola, had been halted. Officials at China’s General Administration of Customs didn’t respond to requests for comment. Officials at Richardson, Canada’s biggest grain handler, could not be reached for comment.

Reuters noted that the move comes amid heightened tensions between the two countries in a dispute over trade and telcoms technology. Recently, it was announced that the chief financial officer of the world’s largest telecommunications equipment maker, Huawei Technologies, will face U.S. criminal charges. Also, China has detained two Canadians working in China, and on March 4 accused one of them of stealing Chinese state secrets passed on to him by the other.

China reportedly buys about $1.88 billion of Canadian canola per year. In 2018-19, Canada is forecast to produce 21.1 million tonnes of canola and export about 11 million tonnes.