President Trump has threatened tariffs on Taiwan and the chip industry. China has signaled it will not let the trade war keep it from the technology it needs.

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