Amid trade tensions with the United States, China has appointed a new top trade negotiator on Wednesday who is a former representative to the World Trade Organization and is replacing Vice Commerce Minister Wang Shouwen,

Chinese authorities have appointed Li Chenggang as the deputy minister of commerce and chief representative for international trade negotiations. This nomination comes as a response to escalating trade tensions between Beijing and Washington.

China has appointed a new trade negotiator in the midst of its tariff fight with the United States as the world’s two largest economies steadily increase tariffs on each other’s goods.