China appointed a new chief international trade negotiator on Wednesday, amidst ongoing tariff disputes with the U.S.

The government announced that Li Chenggang has been appointed to succeed Wang Shouwen, who was involved in the trade negotiations concerning the 2020 trade agreement between China and the U.S.

The world's two foremost economies have progressively escalated tariffs on reciprocal goods following the U.S.'s imposition of elevated tariffs on numerous nations. China confronts a 145% taxation on exports destined for the U.S., while other countries were granted a 90-day deferment on the majority of duties.

China's economic growth reached 5.4% year-on-year in the first quarter, buoyed by robust export performance. However, experts predict a notable deceleration in the coming months due to the impact of tariffs imposed on Chinese imports by the United States.

Exports played a significant role in China's 5% annual growth rate in 2024, and the official target for this year is still around 5%.

Beijing has retaliated against the U.S. by imposing 125% tariffs on American exports, concurrently emphasizing its resolve to maintain its markets accessible to trade and investment.

According to Sheng Laiyun, spokesperson for the National Bureau of Statistics, the tariffs are expected to strain China's economy in the immediate future, though they are unlikely to impede sustained long-term growth.

The rationale behind China's reshuffling of negotiators remained obscure, yet this alteration emerges at a time when Chinese authorities assert the nation possesses a range of strategies to counter U.S. measures. These strategies include a greater dependence on its immense internal market of 1.4 billion consumers, alongside leveraging relationships with Europe and nations in the global south. However, as China's domestic consumption continues to stagnate, substituting the purchasing power of the U.S. consumer presents a considerable challenge.

China also enacted stricter limitations on the export of rare earth elements, materials essential for advanced technological goods, aerospace production, and the defense industry.

Before assuming his current role, Li served for approximately four and a half years as China's representative to the World Trade Organization, the international body that oversees worldwide trade, to which Beijing has formally appealed regarding its tariff conflict with the United States.

Additionally, he served as the deputy permanent representative for the Chinese delegation at the United Nations office in Geneva and various other international organisations located in Switzerland.

He has also held positions as an assistant minister at the Ministry of Commerce and the director-general of the ministry's Department of Treaty and Law.

Li holds a bachelor's degree in law from China's prestigious Peking University and a master's in law and economics from the University of Hamburg.