Photo:VCG

Some media outlets' politicized interpretation of the Chinese market regulator's fine issued against Canadian parka marker Canada Goose and attempts to link it to soured China-Canada ties are "completely groundless," with China's opening-up policy remaining unshakable, the spokesperson of the Chinese Consulate-General in Montreal, Canada said on Saturday. 

Recently, China's regulator, the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System, fined Canada Goose 450,000 yuan ($88,202) for violating Chinese advertising laws. Some foreign media linked the incident to political tensions between China and Canada due to Canada's arrest of Huawei chief executive officer Meng Wanzhou and a string of provocations from Canada.

This is a case of market regulation. The politicized interpretation portraying Canada as a target is completely groundless, the spokesperson of the Chinese consulate said in a statement released on Saturday. 

According to a detailed notice from the Chinese market regulator, without evidence and investigation, the company claimed that the materials used in its products "all contain Hutterite, which is good and the best down feather to keep warm in Canada." Such claim is inconsistent with the actual situation and will influence consumers' purchasing behavior and it is false advertising, read the statement.

Canada Goose admitted that a "misalignment of text" appeared earlier this year on its online store on Chinese e-commerce platform Tmall. "The error was corrected immediately," the company said, according to FOX Business.

Citing an expert, Canadian media the Global and Mail on Thursday reported that Canada Goose has become a "potential target" in the Chinese market amid tensions, suggesting this is related with "politically motivated boycotts."

However, the spokesperson of the Chinese Consulate-General in Montreal said that opening-up is China's basic policy and will remain unshakable. China has and will open its market to foreign investors, protect the legitimate rights and interests of foreign capital, and promote fair competition between domestic and foreign companies.

 "We welcome Canadian companies to cooperate with China and we welcome more Canadian high-quality products to enter the Chinese market," the statement read.

Global Times