From September 14 to 17, Madrid will host the fourth round of China-US economic and trade talks. The Chinese mainland delegation, led by Vice Premier He Lifengalso a Political Bureau member of the Communist Party of China Central Committeewill meet U.S. officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, to tackle tariffs, export controls and TikTok.
Tariff Truce: A Snapshot
The first three roundsGeneva in May, London in June and Stockholm in Julyyielded tangible results. Both sides cut 91% of their additional tariffs and agreed on a 90-day pause for another 24% of reciprocal duties. The latest truce runs into early November, and Madrid will test whether that momentum can be extended or deepened.
Export Controls Take Center Stage
For the first time, export restrictions are a headline item. Days before the talks, the U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security added 32 Chinese mainland entitiesfrom semiconductors to biotech and aerospaceto its Entity List. In turn, the Ministry of Commerce of the Chinese mainland condemned the move as untimely and promised measures to protect domestic players.
TikTok on the Agenda
TikTok will join traditional trade issues at the table. Although details remain under wraps, its inclusion underlines the growing link between digital platforms and economic policy.
What to Watch
As a globally minded audiencedigital nomads, entrepreneurs and changemakers alikehere’s what to track in Madrid:
- Will the tariff truce be prolonged or expanded?
- How will both sides navigate new export controls?
- Can there be a breakthrough on cross-border data and social media rules?
This Spain summit could set the tone for the next phase of global trade and tech diplomacy. Stay tuned for real-time updates.
Reference(s):
Upcoming China-U.S. talks in Spain: Tariffs, export curbs and TikTok
cgtn.com
