Beijing: China has officially removed Li Chenggang from his position as permanent representative to the World Trade Organization (WTO), formalizing his appointment as the country’s lead international trade negotiator, according to the state news agency Xinhua. The change comes amid rising tensions between Beijing and Washington, as both nations impose reciprocal tariffs and sanctions, and China enforces broad export curbs on rare earths and critical materials.
Li, 58, previously served as China’s WTO envoy and assistant minister of commerce, and played a pivotal role in four rounds of U.S.-China trade negotiations aimed at preventing a full-scale trade war. His tenure was controversial, particularly following his August visit to Washington, where U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent publicly described him as “unhinged,” criticizing his confrontational approach during high-level meetings. Sources reported that Li’s uninvited arrival and insistence on senior-level talks in Washington intensified diplomatic friction.
Li Yongjie has succeeded him as China’s WTO representative, presenting her credentials on September 29. The transition was part of a routine set of ambassadorial changes approved by President Xi Jinping. Analysts view the move as part of China’s broader strategy to recalibrate its international trade diplomacy amid ongoing economic tensions with the United States.
The leadership change precedes an anticipated summit between President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the upcoming APEC meeting in South Korea, where both sides are expected to discuss tariffs and explore measures to ease trade tensions. U.S. and Chinese officials have also held recent video discussions to negotiate solutions and prevent further escalation in bilateral trade disputes.
Li’s career includes several key roles in China’s Ministry of Commerce, particularly in departments overseeing trade treaties, law, and fair-trade practices. A graduate of Peking University and Hamburg University in Germany, Li is considered highly knowledgeable in WTO law, but his confrontational style in recent negotiations has drawn international attention.
This personnel change underscores Beijing’s strategic pivot in handling global trade diplomacy, signaling both a consolidation of authority in trade negotiations and a readiness to engage with the United States on high-stakes economic matters.