Canada's Trudeau says will not back down in dispute with China

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday said he would not escalate a deepening trade and diplomatic dispute with China but added his government had no intention of backing down as it defended its interests.

Trudeau, speaking to an audience in Montreal just days after Beijing warned Ottawa not to meddle in Hong Kong's affairs, also repeated his call for restraint and respect for human rights as protests sweep the former British colony.

(Reporting by David Ljunggren; editing by Jonathan Oatis)