Economics
China Elevates ‘Good Cop’ on Trade to Counter Trump Barbs
- Zhang Xiangchen named new Chinese ambassador to the WTO
- Zhang represents good cop in two-pronged effort on trade
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It was an unusual move for a Chinese official. Appearing before 400 executives and officials at a steak dinner at a hotel in Beijing, Zhang Xiangchen set aside his notes and began speaking off the cuff in English.
The corporate chiefs had gathered on Dec. 9 to hear the Chinese government’s first major remarks to foreign businesses since Donald Trump’s election win the prior month. Trump’s victory was prompting fears of a trade war, and Zhang’s speech came just days after his surprise call with Taiwan’s president briefly threw decades of U.S. policy into question.