Amid escalating US-China trade tensions, China has abruptly replaced its minister-level official in charge of trade negotiations.
On the 16th, the Chinese State Council announced that it had replaced Wang Shouwen with Li Chenggang as the Minister-level International Trade Negotiator and Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Commerce.
Former representative Wang participated in US-China trade negotiations during the last year of the first Trump administration in 2020.
Newly appointed representative Li is a veteran official who has handled international negotiations at the Ministry of Commerce for decades, including serving as China's ambassador to the World Trade Organization (WTO). The South China Morning Post (SCMP) explained that Vice Premier Hu Chunhua oversees the US-China trade negotiations overall, while Li is responsible for the practical negotiations.
China has been seeking negotiations amid the trade war with the US but has recently retaliated by imposing counter tariffs. The Associated Press reported that the reason for China's replacement of the negotiation representative is unclear, but the move came as Chinese authorities stated they have various options to respond to US measures.
Alfredo Montufar-Hellu, head of the Conference Board China Center, said, "In a situation of rising tensions, Representative Li is seen as a figure who can break the negotiation deadlock," adding, "His experience at the WTO means he has established connections with key stakeholders including governments such as the US."
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