US-china Trade Talks Continue in Spain Amid TikTok Uncertainty
madrid, Spain – A second day of high-stakes trade negotiations between the United States and China is underway in Spain, as a Wednesday deadline looms for TikTok’s chinese owner, ByteDance, to find a buyer or face a potential ban in the US. The talks, led by US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, represent the latest effort to resolve ongoing trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
The meetings follow a July agreement to extend a tariffs truce by 90 days, expiring November 10th. While initially advocating for a TikTok ban,former President Trump repeatedly delayed the action,and expectations are growing that the deadline will be extended for a fourth time.
During a recent interview, Trump stated, “We may let [TikTok] die. Or we may… I don’t know. It depends. up to China, it doesn’t matter too much.” He has previously downplayed national security and privacy concerns surrounding the app, calling them “highly overrated,” and suggested continued extensions while a potential buyer is sought.The White House launched its official TikTok account in August, despite earlier criticisms. TikTok boasts approximately 170 million users in the US.
Beyond TikTok, discussions are expected to focus on “unfair trade practices” and broader national security issues, according to the White House. Officials are also laying the groundwork for a potential meeting between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in October, during a scheduled summit in South Korea.
The current tariffs truce eased import taxes that had reached over 100% on goods traded between the two nations. The extension provides additional time for negotiations to address long-standing trade imbalances and security concerns.
