China appointed a new international trade representative at the Ministry of Commerce (Mofcom) on Wednesday amid an unprecedented trade war with the United States.
Li Chenggang will replace 59-year-old Wang Shouwen, who participated in negotiations over the 2020 trade deal between the world’s two largest economies, according to a government statement.
Li, 58, has decades of experience handling international negotiations at Mofcom, and also served as China’s ambassador to the Geneva-based World Trade Organization (WTO) from 2021. He holds a bachelor’s degree in law from Peking University and a master’s degree in the economics of law from the University of Hamburg in Germany.
Though it is unclear why Li has been appointed, analysts said it could be a sign that Beijing is looking to make a breakthrough in negotiations with the US over a potential deal to end the trade war.
“Probably his experience in Geneva means that he has established linkages with key stake holders – their governments including the US.”
Last Friday, Chinese commerce minister Wang Wentao spoke with WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala about the US’ tariff policies and efforts to maintain the WTO’s role in the global trading system.
Wang Yiwei, director of the Institute of International Affairs at Renmin University in Beijing and a former Chinese diplomat, said Li’s knowledge of the WTO would be important in his new role.
During his time at the WTO, Li was vocal in conveying Beijing’s opposition to Trump’s tariff policies.
“The world faces a series of tariff shocks,” Li warned in February during a meeting of the global trade body’s General Council. “The US is unilaterally and arbitrarily, blatantly violating WTO rules. China firmly opposes such measures.”
China began appointing international trade negotiation representatives holding a ministerial-level rank in 2010, as the country aimed to better protect its interests and agree more trade deals.