China slams Canada PM Trudeau's slave labour comment, threatens 'consequences'

China sharply criticized Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's comment that linked Chinese-produced lithium to slave labor, and warned Canada could face consequences if it continues "denigrating maliciously" the human rights situation in China.

Trudeau, during his visit to the US last week, linked the production of lithium in China to "slave labor" without elaborating as he discussed Canada's efforts to ramp up production of the metal used in electric vehicles and other batteries.