US-China trade talks begin in Madrid

2025-09-14 20:20:05 / BOTA ALFA PRESS

US-China trade talks begin in Madrid

China has launched trade talks with United States officials in Madrid this Sunday, September 14, according to Chinese state media and the Spanish government.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and senior Chinese officials, including Vice Premier He Lifeng, will discuss economic and trade issues, as well as the dispute over TikTok, both sides have confirmed.

"Chinese and American delegations met in Madrid on Sunday for talks on economic and trade issues,"  the official Chinese news agency Xinhua reported from the Spanish capital.

Chinese officials have announced that their delegation will remain in Madrid until Wednesday.

Trade tensions between Beijing and Washington have been on the rise throughout 2025, with both countries imposing increasingly high tariffs on each other.

At one point during the year, mutual tariffs reached triple-digit levels, disrupting global supply chains. After that, the two sides agreed to a temporary tariff reduction, with the US lowering tariffs to 30% and China to 10%.

In August, both countries postponed the reintroduction of high tariffs on their respective exports for 90 days, extending the pause until November 10.

The TikTok issue on the negotiating table

The two countries' leaders are also expected to discuss the dispute over the TikTok platform. On Friday, China called on the US to resolve the conflict through dialogue.

The deadline for TikTok to find a non-Chinese buyer or face a ban in the US is September 17, after US President Donald Trump postponed the ban for the third time.

A federal law requiring the sale or banning of TikTok on national security grounds is expected to take effect the day before President Trump's inauguration in January.

China's Ministry of Commerce said on Friday that the US should work with China on the basis of mutual respect and equal consultation to resolve concerns through talks.

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