US and Chinese officials will meet in Madrid to discuss trade disputes, TikTok’s looming deadline, and Washington’s pressure over Beijing’s Russian oil purchases.
Senior officials from the United States and China are holding talks in Madrid to address trade frictions, Washington’s push to curb Chinese oil purchases from Russia, and the future of TikTok in the US.
The meeting, hosted by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, brings together US Treasury Secretary Scott Bennet and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng. It marks the fifth round of such discussions aimed at stabilising fragile bilateral ties.
Relations remain strained by tariffs first introduced under President Donald Trump. Washington has extended duties of about 55% on Chinese goods until November 10, further weighing on global trade.
Analysts say expectations for major progress are limited, but the talks offer both sides an opportunity to ease tensions and prevent further escalation.
One key issue is the looming September 17 deadline for ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, to divest its US business or face a nationwide ban.
The agenda also includes Washington’s call for Beijing to scale back energy imports from Russia, part of efforts to reduce Moscow’s revenue amid the war in Ukraine.
Though unlikely to deliver breakthroughs, the Madrid talks underscore the urgency of dialogue between Washington and Beijing as disputes over trade, technology and geopolitics intensify.
Observers warn that outcomes could affect not only TikTok’s future in the United States but also the trajectory of economic relations between the world’s two largest economies.
