China replaced its trade representative as Beijing and Washington remain at an impasse over the conditions for talks to cool the escalating trade war.

China on Wednesday unexpectedly appointed a new trade negotiator key in any talks to resolve the escalating tariff war with the U.S., replacing veteran trade tsar Wang Shouwen with the Chinese envoy to the World Trade Organization.

China has appointed a new trade negotiator during its tariff fight with the U.S. The government said Wednesday that Li Chenggang has been appointed to replace Wang Shouwen, who participated in the trade negotiations for the 2020 trade deal between the