Li Chenggang appointed as China’s new representative for international trade negotiations.
The Chinese government announced on Wednesday the appointment of Li Chenggang as the representative for international trade negotiations and vice-minister of Commerce, succeeding Wang Shouwen, a key figure in the 2020 Sino-American trade agreement negotiations.
At 58 years old, Li Chenggang has a strong background in international trade relations. Since 2021, he has served as China’s ambassador to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva. A law graduate from Peking University and holder of a master’s degree in economic law from the University of Hamburg, Germany, he is regarded as a seasoned expert in multilateral trade.
His appointment comes amid heightened trade tensions between Beijing and Washington, characterized in recent weeks by reciprocal tariff increases. Since his return to the White House in January, President Donald Trump has raised tariffs on Chinese goods by 145%—with the exception of electronic products—prompting retaliatory Chinese tariffs of up to 125%.
Despite this tense atmosphere, Vice Premier He Lifeng continues to lead overall economic affairs with the United States, while the new trade representative will be tasked with managing operational contacts with foreign partners and representing China in international negotiations.
Since 2010, China has assigned a ministerial rank to this position, reflecting its ambition to more firmly defend its economic interests on a global scale and to forge additional trade agreements.
