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Li Chenggang

The latest news and top stories on Li Chenggang, China’s International Trade Negotiator and Vice Minister of Commerce. Known for his extensive background in trade law and international trade negotiations, he has held various key roles within the Ministry of Commerce since 1989, including Assistant Minister and Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization. His responsibilities involve shaping China’s trade relations and addressing disputes, as evidenced by his confirmation of the tariff truce following high-level trade negotiations in Stockholm. A Peking University and University of Hamburg alumnus, his expertise is crucial in navigating complex global trade dynamics.

China trade

China elevates Li Chenggang to nation’s top international trade role

Appointment comes as Vice-Premier He Lifeng leads a delegation to the US ahead of expected Xi-Trump meeting.

20 Sep 2026 - 8:31PM

China trade

China mulls bid for Apec free-trade area to taunt US, tantalise Asia

16 Sep 2026 - 9:30PM

China-EU relations

EU trade chief swipes at China overcapacity, but vows ‘meaningful’ discussions

5 Jun 2026 - 12:06AM

China-EU relations

EU, China hold talks as trade war looms

China trade envoy Li Chenggang is to meet EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic to set up a platform for discussing trade and investment as Europe considers a tougher approach to stem a flood of low-cost Chinese imports.

4 Jun 2026 - 5:01PM

China trade

Why China is defending industrial subsidies against ‘one-sided’ OECD report

The dispute comes as industrial policy becomes a major point of contention in global trade, particularly in hi-tech and strategic sectors.

4 Jun 2026 - 5:00PM

China-EU relations

Exclusive | EU and China set for Paris talks this week as trade war fears mount

Bloc puts ‘carrot-and-stick’ approach to test in high-stakes meeting with Beijing’s international trade envoy on sidelines of OECD meeting.

3 Jun 2026 - 8:55PMvideocam

US-China trade war

China’s top trade negotiator urges Apec to grow economic pie, divide it fairly

At ministerial meeting in Suzhou, Li Chenggang urges representatives of 21 economies to ‘reject zero-sum thinking’.

22 May 2026 - 8:00PM

Li Chenggang, China’s international trade representative and a vice-minister of commerce, speaks during the opening ceremony of the Apec ministerial meeting in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, on Friday. Photo: EPA

US-China trade war

The US-China trade war 1 year on: who really holds the upper hand?

A fragile truce prevented all-out confrontation, but Beijing and Washington remain locked in a struggle few analysts see easing any time soon.

3 Apr 2026 - 6:15AMvideocam

China stock market

Xi-Trump summit eyed for direction as Hong Kong, China stocks shaken by conflict

Markets await clarity on a summit, hoping it will steady Hong Kong and China equities as Middle East hostilities weigh on sentiment.

18 Mar 2026 - 2:59PM

US-China relations

Editorial | China policy to stay on course despite delay to Xi-Trump summit

Although Trump is on the back foot and China may have the advantage, this will not affect Beijing’s consistent approach in dealing with the US.

18 Mar 2026 - 7:15AM

Talks between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing had been scheduled for March 31 to April 2.

US-China relations

With Trump’s China trip in limbo, further trade talks loom: analysts

As the US president cites the Iran war for his delay and Paris talks see only minor progress, experts said more negotiations were likely.

17 Mar 2026 - 9:00PMvideocam

US President Donald Trump speaks after signing an executive order regarding a task force on fraud in the Oval Office of the White House on Monday. Photo: AP

2026 Xi-Trump summits

Trump-Xi summit delay may suit China amid Iran war

Postponing Trump’s visit to Beijing could help avoid potential embarrassments linked to the Iran war and give more time to reach agreements.

17 Mar 2026 - 5:40PM

US-China trade war

China and US trade talks off to a low-key start after first meeting in Paris

Discussions expected to focus on trade, investment and rare earths ahead of crucial Xi-Trump summit later this month in Beijing.

16 Mar 2026 - 9:33AMvideocam

Middle East

Letters | Iran’s people deserve stability, dignity and peace

Readers discuss the US and Israel’s bombing of Iran, US-Philippine military cooperation, and American criticism of a key Chinese trade negotiator.

3 Mar 2026 - 11:30AM

People watch as smoke rises on the skyline after an explosion in Tehran, Iran, on February 28. Photo: AP

E-commerce

JD.com renews on-demand delivery fight with US$2.9 billion in grocery subsidies

JD.com says the subsidies will make the ‘Billion-Yuan Supermarket’ its largest subsidised product category, surpassing electronics.

26 Feb 2026 - 8:30PM

Artificial intelligence

Sweet surge: Qwen overtakes Yuanbao after Alibaba’s bubble tea campaign

More than 10 million free orders put Alibaba’s AI app in the spotlight amid a high-stakes battle for Spring Festival attention.

6 Feb 2026 - 8:35PM

E-commerce

China bans e-commerce platforms from forcing lowest prices or abusing algorithms

Beijing moves to protect consumers and merchants, with new 29-article regulation tightening oversight of the fast-growing digital economy.

22 Dec 2025 - 6:00PM

US-China trade war

Surviving the shocks: what China and the US learned from 2025’s trade war

Businesses and officials faced a year of disruption – and in some cases, resilience – as tariffs and export controls roiled global markets.

17 Dec 2025 - 8:07AMvideocam

E-commerce

Chinese vendors on Shein, Temu face tax changes at home and abroad

While the EU ends a duty exemption, a reform of China’s tax regime may present the bigger challenge for cross-border sellers.

16 Nov 2025 - 10:00AM

SCMP Highlights

Chinese students boost US education, Trump tariffs in court: SCMP daily highlights

From Chinese military preparing to cut costs to Brazil urging stronger commitments ahead of Cop30, here’s a round-up from today’s coverage.

6 Nov 2025 - 9:15PM

US-China trade war

Chinese trade negotiator urges US to boost agricultural cooperation

Li Chenggang tells visiting US delegation that fluctuations in agricultural trade have roots in America’s imposition of unilateral tariffs.

6 Nov 2025 - 4:30PM

Soybeans are loaded into a truck in Dwight, Illinois, in August. Photo: Getty Images/TNS

US-China relations

‘No structure to say yes’: can Chinese investment still find a home in America?

Even as Beijing pushes for an opening, US rules, local backlash and political fear keep China on the sidelines.

29 Nov 2025 - 1:07AMvideocam

US-China relations

Why Xi and Trump chose to talk in Busan, away from South Korea’s Apec events

Chinese foreign ministry confirms leaders to ‘exchange views on bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest’.

30 Oct 2025 - 11:50AMvideocam

US-China relations

‘Hawkish’ interpretations rise as US, China discourse gets lost in translation

In an echo of the Cold War, mistranslations are testing already strained nerves in Washington and Beijing.

27 Oct 2025 - 11:38PMvideocam

US-China trade war

US-China framework deal only ‘first step’ towards ending trade war: analysts

Talks in Malaysia may have paved the way for a broader trade deal, but the ‘real test’ will be implementing the pledges, analysts say.

27 Oct 2025 - 9:00PMvideocam

Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent pose for a photo ahead of a round of talks in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Photo: Xinhua

US-China trade war

US-China trade deal in sight ahead of Trump-Xi summit

Talks in Malaysia have paved the way for an accord at a presidential summit this week, with potential agreements in areas including rare earths, soybeans and tariffs.

27 Oct 2025 - 5:03PM

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng. Photo: Xinhua

US-China trade war

Trump and Xi’s shock tactics see trade war remain in a stalemate

Former government officials and analysts believe this is the price you pay when diplomatic negotiation fails and compromise is ignored.

18 Oct 2025 - 7:16AMvideocam

Rare earths

Outside In | Trump may be realising he has less leverage over China than he thought

The past week has provided a rare insight into the fudging and bullying that goes on behind the closed doors of high-stakes trade talks.

17 Oct 2025 - 4:30PMvideocam

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Li Chenggang

China elevates Li Chenggang to nation’s top international trade role

Appointment comes as Vice-Premier He Lifeng leads a delegation to the US ahead of expected Xi-Trump meeting.

China mulls bid for Apec free-trade area to taunt US, tantalise Asia

EU trade chief swipes at China overcapacity, but vows ‘meaningful’ discussions

EU, China hold talks as trade war looms

China trade envoy Li Chenggang is to meet EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic to set up a platform for discussing trade and investment as Europe considers a tougher approach to stem a flood of low-cost Chinese imports.

Why China is defending industrial subsidies against ‘one-sided’ OECD report

The dispute comes as industrial policy becomes a major point of contention in global trade, particularly in hi-tech and strategic sectors.

.css-1f6sr3w{color:#727272;}Exclusive | EU and China set for Paris talks this week as trade war fears mount

Bloc puts ‘carrot-and-stick’ approach to test in high-stakes meeting with Beijing’s international trade envoy on sidelines of OECD meeting.

China’s top trade negotiator urges Apec to grow economic pie, divide it fairly

At ministerial meeting in Suzhou, Li Chenggang urges representatives of 21 economies to ‘reject zero-sum thinking’.

The US-China trade war 1 year on: who really holds the upper hand?

A fragile truce prevented all-out confrontation, but Beijing and Washington remain locked in a struggle few analysts see easing any time soon.

Xi-Trump summit eyed for direction as Hong Kong, China stocks shaken by conflict

Markets await clarity on a summit, hoping it will steady Hong Kong and China equities as Middle East hostilities weigh on sentiment.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Editorial | China policy to stay on course despite delay to Xi-Trump summit

Although Trump is on the back foot and China may have the advantage, this will not affect Beijing’s consistent approach in dealing with the US.

With Trump’s China trip in limbo, further trade talks loom: analysts

As the US president cites the Iran war for his delay and Paris talks see only minor progress, experts said more negotiations were likely.

Trump-Xi summit delay may suit China amid Iran war

Postponing Trump’s visit to Beijing could help avoid potential embarrassments linked to the Iran war and give more time to reach agreements.

China and US trade talks off to a low-key start after first meeting in Paris

Discussions expected to focus on trade, investment and rare earths ahead of crucial Xi-Trump summit later this month in Beijing.

Letters | Iran’s people deserve stability, dignity and peace

Readers discuss the US and Israel’s bombing of Iran, US-Philippine military cooperation, and American criticism of a key Chinese trade negotiator.

JD.com renews on-demand delivery fight with US$2.9 billion in grocery subsidies

JD.com says the subsidies will make the ‘Billion-Yuan Supermarket’ its largest subsidised product category, surpassing electronics.

Sweet surge: Qwen overtakes Yuanbao after Alibaba’s bubble tea campaign

More than 10 million free orders put Alibaba’s AI app in the spotlight amid a high-stakes battle for Spring Festival attention.

China bans e-commerce platforms from forcing lowest prices or abusing algorithms

Beijing moves to protect consumers and merchants, with new 29-article regulation tightening oversight of the fast-growing digital economy.

Surviving the shocks: what China and the US learned from 2025’s trade war

Businesses and officials faced a year of disruption – and in some cases, resilience – as tariffs and export controls roiled global markets.

Chinese vendors on Shein, Temu face tax changes at home and abroad

While the EU ends a duty exemption, a reform of China’s tax regime may present the bigger challenge for cross-border sellers.

Chinese students boost US education, Trump tariffs in court: SCMP daily highlights

From Chinese military preparing to cut costs to Brazil urging stronger commitments ahead of Cop30, here’s a round-up from today’s coverage.

Chinese trade negotiator urges US to boost agricultural cooperation

Li Chenggang tells visiting US delegation that fluctuations in agricultural trade have roots in America’s imposition of unilateral tariffs.

‘No structure to say yes’: can Chinese investment still find a home in America?

Even as Beijing pushes for an opening, US rules, local backlash and political fear keep China on the sidelines.

Why Xi and Trump chose to talk in Busan, away from South Korea’s Apec events

Chinese foreign ministry confirms leaders to ‘exchange views on bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest’.

‘Hawkish’ interpretations rise as US, China discourse gets lost in translation

In an echo of the Cold War, mistranslations are testing already strained nerves in Washington and Beijing.

US-China framework deal only ‘first step’ towards ending trade war: analysts

Talks in Malaysia may have paved the way for a broader trade deal, but the ‘real test’ will be implementing the pledges, analysts say.

US-China trade deal in sight ahead of Trump-Xi summit

Talks in Malaysia have paved the way for an accord at a presidential summit this week, with potential agreements in areas including rare earths, soybeans and tariffs.

Trump and Xi’s shock tactics see trade war remain in a stalemate

Former government officials and analysts believe this is the price you pay when diplomatic negotiation fails and compromise is ignored.

Outside In | Trump may be realising he has less leverage over China than he thought

The past week has provided a rare insight into the fudging and bullying that goes on behind the closed doors of high-stakes trade talks.

Exclusive | EU and China set for Paris talks this week as trade war fears mount

Editorial | China policy to stay on course despite delay to Xi-Trump summit