China removes Li Chenggang as WTO negotiator, appoints Li Yongjie

China has removed Li Chenggang from his position as the country"s negotiator at the World Trade Organization (WTO), according to a report by Reuters. The official news agency Xinhua announced the change on Monday, stating that Li has been dropped from his role as the permanent representative to the WTO.

This decision follows heightened tensions between the United States and China, particularly after the U.S. imposed additional sanctions on foreign companies. In response, China implemented extensive export restrictions on rare earths and critical materials.

Li Chenggang was appointed as the lead international trade negotiator in April. The announcement of his removal was part of a routine list of ambassadorial changes approved by President Xi Jinping. The new representative to the WTO is Li Yongjie, who presented her credentials on September 29, as reported by the trade body on its Weibo social media account. It is noted that Beijing sometimes does not formally announce when an official assumes a new role.

For further context on recent developments, see previous reports regarding the implications of Li Chenggang"s actions on U.S.-China relations.