Li Chenggang Appointed New Representative of China for International Trade Negotiations
China Appoints New Trade Representative Amid Ongoing Tensions with the U.S.
On Wednesday, the Chinese government announced the appointment of Li Chenggang as the new representative for international trade negotiations and vice-minister of Commerce, succeeding Wang Shouwen, a key player in the 2020 China-U.S. trade agreement negotiations.
At 58 years old, Li Chenggang brings extensive experience in international trade relations. Since 2021, he has served as China’s ambassador to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva. A graduate in law from Peking University, Li also holds a master’s degree in economic law from the University of Hamburg, Germany. He is regarded as a seasoned expert in multilateral trade.
Li’s appointment comes amid heightened trade tensions between Beijing and Washington, which have recently escalated with reciprocal tariff increases. Since returning to the White House in January, President Donald Trump has raised tariffs on Chinese products by 145%—excluding electronics—which has prompted retaliatory tariffs from China as high as 125%.
Despite this strained atmosphere, Vice Premier He Lifeng will continue to oversee overall economic relations with the United States, while Li will focus on managing operational contacts with foreign partners and representing China in international negotiations.
Since 2010, China has elevated this role to a ministerial level, reflecting its ambition to more assertively defend its economic interests on a global scale and to conclude more trade agreements.
