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3w ago

China Appoints Li Chenggang as New Trade Representative During Escalating US Tariff Conflict

The experienced negotiator and former WTO ambassador steps into a critical role as tensions between the US and China deepen with significant tariff increases on both sides.

A parcel for Learning Resources, an educational toy company whose products are manufactured in China, is shown at a warehouse in Vernon Hills, Ill., Friday, April 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Li Chenggang, China's Ambassador to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), gestures during an interview with Reuters aside of a ministerial meeting to discuss a draft agreement on curbing subsidies for the fisheries industry in Geneva, Switzerland, July 15, 2021. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo
China's Commerce Vice Minister Wang Shouwen attends an APEC Ministerial Meeting (AMM) Opening Session in San Francisco, California, U.S., November 14, 2023. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo
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Overview

  • Li Chenggang, a veteran negotiator and former WTO ambassador, has been appointed as China's new international trade representative, replacing Wang Shouwen.
  • The appointment marks a strategic move by Beijing as it navigates a rapidly intensifying trade war with the United States.
  • Since January 2025, US President Donald Trump has raised tariffs on Chinese goods by 145%, prompting China to implement retaliatory measures.
  • The escalating tariff measures have raised concerns about potential severe impacts on global markets, with calls for de-escalation from market analysts.
  • Vice-Premier He Lifeng continues to oversee China-US economic relations, with Li expected to play a key role in managing working-level negotiations.