Amidst escalating tariff disputes with the United States, China designated a new chief international trade negotiator on Wednesday.

The government announced Li Chenggang's appointment as the successor to Wang Shouwen, who was involved in the trade negotiations leading to the 2020 trade agreement between China and the U.S.

The world's two largest economies have progressively augmented tariffs on one another's products since the United States initiated a rise in tariffs on numerous countries. China confronts a 145% tax burden on exports destined for the U.S., whereas other nations were granted a ninety-day postponement for most duties.

Earlier on Wednesday, China reported that its economy grew at an annual rate of 5.4% from January to March, driven by robust exports. However, analysts are predicting a substantial deceleration in the world's second-largest economy over the forthcoming months, as tariffs on US imports from China begin to impact.

A significant driver of China's 5% annual growth rate in 2024 was its exports, and the official target for this year is still approximately 5%.

Beijing has retaliated against the U.S. by imposing a 125% tariff on American exports, while simultaneously asserting its resolve to maintain open markets for trade and investment.

According to Sheng Laiyun, a spokesperson for the National Bureau of Statistics, the tariffs are expected to strain China's economy in the short term but are unlikely to impede its long-term growth trajectory.

The rationale behind China's shift in negotiators remained ambiguous, yet this alteration coincides with assertions from Chinese officials that the nation possesses a multitude of retaliatory avenues against U.S. measures. These include a greater reliance on its expansive domestic market of 1.4 billion consumers, as well as leveraging partnerships with Europe and nations in the global south. However, given the persistent stagnation of China's internal consumption, substituting the U.S. consumer base will prove challenging.

Additionally, China implemented further restrictions on the exportation of rare earths, materials integral to cutting-edge technologies, aeronautical engineering, and military applications.

Before starting his new job, Li worked for about four and a half years as China's ambassador to the World Trade Organization. This organization controls global trade, and Beijing has asked it for help with the disagreement about tariffs with the U.S.

Furthermore, he held the position of deputy permanent representative for the Chinese delegation at the United Nations office in Geneva, as well as other international organizations located in Switzerland.

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

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