China’s Vice Premier He Lifeng has emerged as Beijing’s tough new trade negotiator, signaling a dramatic shift from the conciliatory approach of Trump’s first term.
In May, He secured a 90-day trade truce in Geneva, temporarily calming global markets. However, the agreement is now faltering as both sides accuse each other of violations.
Unlike China’s previous Harvard-trained negotiator who favored market pragmatism, He is a staunch advocate of state control who operates under Xi Jinping’s explicit mandate to stand firm against American demands.
This hardline stance represents Beijing’s determination to avoid repeating what they viewed as an unfavorable outcome in the first Trump administration.