U.S. and China Hold Talks in Spain on Trade and TikTok Deadline

Top officials from the U.S. and China met in Madrid on Sunday, September 14, 2025, to tackle ongoing trade disputes and the looming deadline for TikTok’s U.S. operations.

The six-hour meeting, held at the historic Palacio de Santa Cruz, was a step toward easing tensions strained by tariffs and technology conflicts under President Donald Trump’s administration.

The U.S. team, led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, faced off with China’s Vice Premier He Lifeng and trade negotiator Li Chenggang.

This was the fourth round of talks in four months, following a July agreement in Stockholm that paused retaliatory tariffs for 90 days and restarted China’s exports of rare-earth minerals, crucial for U.S. tech and defense industries.

• U.S. and China Trade Talks in Spain Focus on TikTok Deadline, Tariffs
• Madrid Meeting: U.S.-China Officials Discuss TikTok Sale, Trade War Tensions
• TikTok Deadline and Tariff Disputes Dominate U.S.-China Talks in Madrid

A major focus was TikTok, the popular app owned by China’s ByteDance. It faces a September 17 deadline to be sold to U.S. companies or be banned nationwide. Insiders suggest a fourth extension is likely, giving both sides room to negotiate without shutting down the app. “TikTok was definitely discussed,” a source said, noting its role in broader diplomatic strategies.

The talks also covered bigger trade issues. Trump’s 55% tariffs on Chinese goods, now extended to November 10, and U.S. export controls have frustrated Beijing. China pushed for tariff relief and fewer restrictions on U.S. agricultural imports, like soybeans. The two sides also explored cooperation on anti-money laundering efforts, especially regarding China’s alleged tech exports to Russia, which support its war in Ukraine.

Experts aren’t hopeful for quick resolutions. William Reinsch from the Center for Strategic and International Studies said, "I'm not expecting anything substantive between the U.S. and China unless and until there is a one-on-one meeting between Trump and (Chinese President Xi Jinping). Setting that up is really what these talks are all about." Wendy Cutler, a former trade negotiator, agreed, suggesting big issues like TikTok and tariff cuts might wait for a possible Trump-Xi meeting at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Seoul this October. "Frankly, I don't think China is in any rush to do an agreement where they don't get substantial concessions," she said.

Bessent also urged G7 allies to tax China and India for buying Russian oil, aiming to pressure Moscow and push Ukraine peace talks. The G7 is moving to use frozen Russian assets to support Kyiv, but no new U.S. tariffs on China were announced.

Also Read: Trump Says Tariffs on India a Big Deal, Sparks Rift

As the day ended, Bessent sounded hopeful, telling reporters, “We’ll pick up again tomorrow.” Talks resume Monday morning, with press updates expected later. The stakes are high: failure could unravel the fragile truce, worsening a trade war that’s already hit global markets hard. Still, both sides seem open to finding common ground if their leaders can talk directly.