China appoints new commerce envoy in face of tariff turmoil | EUROtoday

China has unexpectedly appointed a brand new commerce envoy, as officers mentioned the US’ follow of “tariff barriers and trade bullying” is having a severe affect on the worldwide financial order.

Li Chenggang, a former assistant commerce minister and WTO ambassador is taking up from veteran commerce negotiator Vice Commerce Minister Wang Shouwen.

The shift comes as Beijing refuses to again down in an escalating commerce warfare with Washington triggered by US President Donald Trump’s hefty tariffs on Chinese items.

Seperately on Wednesday, Beijing introduced its GDP grew by 5.4% between January and March, in contrast with the identical interval a yr earlier – a determine that has exceeded expectations.

Li, 58, beforehand served as a deputy everlasting consultant to the United Nations in Geneva and has held a number of key jobs within the commerce ministry.

Speaking to Reuters, one skilled mentioned the change in jobs was “very abrupt and potentially disruptive” given the present commerce tensions – including that Wang additionally had expertise negotiating with US because the first Trump administration.

“It might be that in the view of China’s top leadership, given how tensions have continued escalating, they need someone else to break the impasse… and finally start negotiating,” mentioned Alfredo Montufar-Helu, a senior advisor to the Conference Board’s China Centre.

However, one other analyst who spoke to Reuters suggests the transfer may simply be a “routine promotion” that’s simply coming at a specific tense interval in time.

Speaking at a press convention on Wednesday by Sheng Laiyun, Deputy Commissioner of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) warned that US levies would put strain on China’s overseas commerce and economic system, however added that China’s economic system is resilient and will enhance in the long run.

“We firmly oppose the US practice of tariff barriers and trade bullying,” mentioned Sheng.

“It violates the economic laws and the principles of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), has a serious impact on the world economic order, and drags down the recovery of the world economy.”

In an editorial by state information outlet China Daily earlier this week, the outlet described the US’ behaviour as “capricious and destructive”, including that it ought to “stop whining about itself being a victim in global trade”.

“The US is not getting ripped off by anybody…rather… [it] has been taking a free ride on the globalisation train”, the editorial went on to say.

Beijing has additionally introduced its GDP figures which have exceeded expectations – with most analysts anticipating Beijing to publish development of 5.1%.

Growth on the planet’s second largest economic system was underscored by sturdy retail gross sales and promising manufacturing facility output.

However, this information covers a interval earlier than US tariffs on Chinese items jumped from 10% to 145%.

Trump had earlier final week lifted duties on China to 145%, with Beijing responding by elevating up levies on U.S. items to 125%.

So, among the growth may very well be all the way down to factories dashing out shipments to beat Trump’s tariffs – an idea referred to as “front loading”.

Analysts say a surge in China’s exports in March will likely be sharply reversed within the months forward as tariffs take full impact.

China’s property downturn can be nonetheless dragging on development. Property funding fell by nearly 10% within the first three months of 2025 in comparison with the identical interval final yr.

New dwelling costs additionally had been unchanged in comparison with the earlier month – an indication that there are nonetheless too many empty properties, and never sufficient individuals shopping for them.

Officials have mentioned there may be ample room for stimulus measures, and loads of instruments within the they will use to bolster the economic system and roll out extra help measures.

But it will likely be particularly essential for China to spice up home demand and spending this yr as Washington’s tariffs hits Beijing’s essential export sector.