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

China has appointed a new trade negotiator in the midst of its tariff fight with the United States as the world’s two largest economies steadily increase tariffs on each other’s goods.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping has said his nation is “not afraid,” in his first public comment on the escalating trade war with the United States, as Beijing raised tariffs on US goods to 125%.