China's State Council announced on September 20th, 2026, the appointment of Li Chenggang as the International Trade Negotiator of the People's Republic of China, a position at the ministerial level. This significant personnel change occurs as China prepares for a summit between President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump, scheduled for September 24th in the United States.
Li Chenggang, 59, is a seasoned diplomat with extensive experience in China's commerce system. He holds a law degree from Peking University and a master's in legal economics from the University of Hamburg. His career includes roles such as Deputy Director of the Department of Fair Trade for Imports and Exports, and Director of the Department of Treaty and Law within the Ministry of Commerce. He also served as Assistant Minister of Commerce from December 2016.
Prior to this latest appointment, Li served as China's Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary starting in February 2021. In March of the previous year, he returned to China to become the International Trade Negotiator (ministerial level) and Vice Minister of Commerce, and is currently the Deputy Party Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce.
This appointment is seen as crucial given ongoing discussions between China and the U.S. to de-escalate trade tensions. Reports from Reuters indicate that both sides are considering reducing or eliminating China's 15% tariff on U.S. liquefied natural gas, alongside potential cuts in tariffs on approximately $30 billion worth of goods from each country. These agreements could be announced during President Xi's visit to the U.S.
