China appoints trade negotiator ahead of Trump visit
China has appointed Jiang Chenghua, a veteran negotiator with experience managing export controls and the country’s investment ties with the United States, as its Deputy Representative for International Trade Negotiations.
Jiang replaced Li Yongjie, who was appointed as China’s representative to the World Trade Organization in October.
The appointment comes as Beijing prepares for US President Donald Trump’s visit in April.
At the same time, Beijing is turning its attention to using export control frameworks to pressure Japan over Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks regarding Taiwan.
Trade diplomats say Beijing has raised the caliber of its negotiators since Trump first targeted China at the White House; Some believe China may now have the upper hand at the negotiating table.
A trained trade lawyer, Jiang previously headed the commerce ministry’s import-export control division and worked on China-US bilateral investment treaty negotiations, which were initiated in 2008 but shelved in 2017 after Trump took office.
China’s global trading partners were stunned when Beijing sharply expanded rare earth export controls in October; It was a backlash triggered by moves by U.S. lawmakers to further restrict Chinese investment in the world’s largest consumer market.
Analysts say the escalation likely reflects Beijing’s calculation that demonstrating its ability to choke critical supply chains will remind Washington of the influence China wields if Trump goes too far.
Japanese firms fear Beijing is preparing to impose new restrictions on rare earth exports after China in early January banned shipments of dual-use items to military users, including some rare earth elements critical to Japan’s automotive industry.
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