AsianFin -- A U.S. Commerce Department employee has been prevented from leaving China for several months, according to media reports, highlighting renewed tensions between the two countries even as they work to arrange a leaders’ summit focused on resolving trade and geopolitical frictions.

The individual, a Chinese-American employee of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, had traveled to China to visit family, the Washington Post reported, citing four people familiar with the situation. The person was reportedly subjected to an exit ban after failing to disclose his U.S. government affiliation on a visa application.

The U.S. government delivered a high-level diplomatic message to Beijing requesting that the individual be allowed to return, the report said. The man’s identity has not been made public.