China chose a new main negotiator for international trade on Wednesday because of disagreements about taxes on goods with the U.S.

The government said that Li Chenggang will replace Wang Shouwen. Wang Shouwen was part of the trade talks for the 2020 trade deal between China and the U.S.

The two biggest economies in the world have been putting more taxes on each other's products since the U.S. increased taxes on goods from many countries. China's goods going to the U.S. have a 145% tax, but other countries had 90 extra days before they had to pay most taxes.

Earlier on Wednesday, China said its economy grew by 5.4% a year from January to March, helped by strong exports. However, experts believe that the world's second biggest economy will slow down a lot in the next few months, because new taxes on Chinese goods from the US will start.

Exports played a big part in China's 5% yearly growth in 2024, and the government's goal for this year is still around 5%.

Beijing has replied to the U.S. by adding a 125% tax on American products. At the same time, it says it wants to keep its markets open for buying and selling things and for businesses to invest.

Sheng Laiyun, a spokesperson for the National Bureau of Statistics, said that the taxes will cause problems for China's economy in the short term, but they will not stop its growth in the long term.

It was not clear why China was changing its negotiators, but this change happens at a time when Chinese officials state their country has several ways to react to what the U.S. is doing. These options include depending more on its large market of 1.4 billion buyers, and on Europe and countries in the southern hemisphere. However, since people in China are not buying much these days, it will be hard to find a replacement for American buyers.

China also put more limits on sending rare earths to other countries. These materials are used to make advanced technology, airplanes, and military equipment.

Before his new job, Li was China's representative to the World Trade Organization for about 4 and a half years. This organization controls trade around the world, and China has asked it for help with its disagreement about tariffs with the U.S.

He also worked as a senior representative for China at the United Nations office in Geneva and other international groups in Switzerland.

He has also worked as an assistant minister at the Ministry of Commerce and was in charge of the ministry's Department of Treaties and Law.

Li studied law at Peking University in China and later got a master's degree in economics of law from the University of Hamburg.