US-China Trade Talks in Madrid to Decide TikTok Sale and November Tariffs

US and Chinese officials are set to meet next week in Madrid for another round of high-level trade talks, with the agenda centered on the future of TikTok in the U.S. and an approaching tariff deadline in November. The discussions, scheduled from September 14 to 17, will also touch on broader trade and national security issues, including financial crimes and money laundering networks, according to the U.S. Treasury Department.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce confirmed the meetings, emphasizing that both TikTok and U.S. unilateral tariffs will be key topics. These deadlines have been delayed multiple times in recent months, but are approaching critical points. On tariffs, President Trump last month granted another 90-day delay to postpone a potential return to triple-digit duties between the two countries until November 10. Currently, the U.S. maintains a 30% duty on Chinese imports and China has 10% tariffs on American goods, with certain products like steel and medical supplies subject to higher sector-specific tariffs.

The TikTok situation is equally pressing. A U.S. law requires ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, to divest ownership of the app or face a ban by September 17. Lawmakers have repeatedly raised national security concerns, citing potential Chinese access to data from the app’s 170 million monthly U.S. users. Trump has delayed the deadline several times and has hinted at possible buyers, but a concrete sale has not yet materialized.

Treasury Secretary Bessent will be in Europe from September 12 to 18, visiting both Spain and the United Kingdom. Markets are closely watching the talks, but analysts expect limited breakthroughs, noting that broader trade relations between the two countries are increasingly shaped by a global economy dividing into U.S.- and China-led blocs.

The talks also occur amid Trump’s growing focus on Russia. The president has signaled tougher action against nations like China and India for purchasing Russian oil, hinting at the possibility of new tariffs alongside existing sanctions on banks and energy.

This round of trade discussions follows a series of previous meetings between U.S. and Chinese officials in Geneva, London, and Stockholm over the past months. Much of the diplomatic focus remains on the potential for a face-to-face meeting between Trump and President Xi Jinping, potentially at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in late October in South Korea.

The Madrid talks from September 14 to 17 will focus on finalizing TikTok’s U.S. divestment and reviewing potential tariff increases in November, with both sides weighing national security rules and trade impacts that could affect hundreds of U.S. and Chinese companies.

Also Read: Trump Tariffs Force India Toward China While Mexico Sides with U.S.