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

With travel warnings and revoked visas, the two superpowers locked in a bruising trade war may make students and tourists their bargaining chips.