The fourth round of trade talks between the Chinese mainland and the U.S. is set to take place in Spain from September 14 to 17, led by Chinese vice premier He Lifeng. This meeting builds on three previous rounds held in Geneva, London and Stockholm since May.
In mid-May, the first session in Geneva marked the first bilateral engagement since Washington imposed tariffs on Chinese mainland goods. Led by He Lifeng and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, negotiators agreed on a framework consultation mechanism to keep communication channels open.
Shortly after, a joint statement announced a 90-day suspension of 24 percent of U.S. tariffs and matching countermeasures from the Chinese mainland. This pause was designed to ease tensions and create space for deeper dialogue.
In June, talks in London produced a principled agreement to reinforce the Geneva framework, with both sides aiming to build trust and support steady growth in bilateral economic ties.
As the August 12 deadline approached, negotiators met in Stockholm to discuss extending the tariff pause. A joint statement confirmed another 90-day extension, keeping the pause in effect until November 20.
Observers highlight that these talks offer a chance to address long-standing economic and trade challenges. Associate professor Sun Taiyi of Christopher Newport University says the meetings help clarify outstanding issues and steer bilateral relations back on track.
Experts also note that regular dialogue is steering the world's two largest economies toward resolving key trade issues. "They are developing a much deeper understanding of each side's pain points," said John Quelch, executive vice chancellor at Duke Kunshan University.
Looking ahead to the talks in Spain, senior research fellow Li Yong from the China Association of International Trade sees routine engagement mechanisms sending a clear signal of predictability and cooperation to global markets.
Reference(s):
Last rounds of China-U.S. Trade Talks: Consensus, deadline extensions
cgtn.com
