China appoints new trade envoy in face of tariff turmoil

China has unexpectedly appointed a new business messenger, as officials said that the practice of America’s “Tariff Obstacles and Trade Inystation” is having a serious impact on the global economic system.

A former Assistant Commerce Minister and WTO Ambassador Li Chengung, experienced business talks Vice President Wang Showen is taking over.

The change comes when Beijing refused to return to a growing trade war, in which Washington triggered heavy tariffs on US President Donald Trump’s Chinese goods.

China’s already dull economy is working for an impact on a major source of revenue – export.

Beijing on Wednesday announced that its GDP rose 5.4% between January and March, compared to the same period of one year ago.

This figure has exceeded expectations, but reflects the period before jumping from 10% from the US tariff, and Chinese authorities further warned of more economic pain.

While both Washington and Beijing have said that they are open to talk, nor have they taken any step to do so.

When this happens, 58, Lee, will play an important role. He previously served as a deputy permanent representative for the United Nations in Geneva and has organized several major jobs in the Ministry of Commerce.

Talking to Reuters, an expert said that the change in jobs was “very sudden and potentially disruptive”, which was looking at the current trade tension – stating that Wang had experience that we had a conversation with us since the first Trump administration.

Alfredo Montofer-Hellu, a senior advisor to the China Center of the Conference Board, said, “It may be that in the view of China’s top leadership, how stress is increasing, how they need someone else to break the deadlock … and finally start interaction.”

However, another analyst who spoke to Reuters suggested that this step could be just a “regular promotion” that came in a particularly tense period.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Deputy Commissioner Sheng Lion warned that American levy would put pressure on China’s foreign trade and economy, but also said that China’s economy is flexible and should improve long -term.

“We strongly oppose tariff obstacles and American practice of business bullying,” Sheng said.

“It violates the principles of economic laws and the World Trade Organization, has a serious impact on the world economic system, and reduces the recovery of the world economy.”

Earlier this week, in an editorial in State News Outlet China, the outlet described America’s behavior as a “Capricorn and disastrous”, saying that it should stop crying about “suffering in global trade”.

The editorial said, “America is not bursting from anyone … rather … (this) is a free ride on the globalization train.”

Beijing’s GDP data for the first quarter defeated the expectations of analysts – which increased to about 5.1%.

The growth in the world’s second largest economy was outlined by strong retail sales and promising factory production.

But American tariffs on China increased only in recent weeks. Trump increased him by 145% earlier last week, and Beijing retaliated by increasing the levy on American goods by 125%.

So some expansion may be down to factories exiting the shipment to defeat Trump’s tariff – a concept called “front loading”.

Analysts say that China’s exports in March will be rapidly reversed in the coming months as tariffs have a full effect.

The recession of China’s property is still pulling on development. Property investment fell by about 10% in the first three months of 2025 as compared to the same period last year.

The prices of the new home were also unchanged as compared to the previous month – an indication that there are still lots of empty houses, and not enough people who buy them.

Officials have stated that there is enough space for excitement measures, and there are plenty of equipment that they can use to increase the economy and roll more support measures.

But it will be especially important for China to promote domestic demand and spend this year as Washington’s tariff hits the important export area of ​​Beijing.