Bessent to Meet Chinese Officials in Spain for TikTok, Trade Talks/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will meet Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Madrid to discuss tariffs, national security, and TikTok ownership. This marks the fourth round of U.S.-China talks following earlier meetings in London, Geneva, and Stockholm. The negotiations come as Washington weighs extending the TikTok sale deadline once again.
Bessent’s Madrid Talks on Trade and TikTok: Quick Looks
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent traveling to Madrid for U.S.-China negotiations.
- Will meet Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng to discuss tariffs, security, and TikTok.
- Fourth round of talks, after sessions in London, Geneva, and Stockholm.
- Both nations have paused tariff escalations with 90-day temporary freezes.
- Discussions cover strategic industries: semiconductors, rare earths, and medicines.
- TikTok’s future remains uncertain amid a U.S. law requiring ByteDance to sell.
- Trump has extended TikTok’s sale deadline three times; next deadline is Wednesday.
- Pew survey: one-third of Americans back a ban, down from 50% in 2023.
- Bessent will also meet Spanish officials to discuss bilateral ties.
- After Spain, Bessent joins Trump in the U.K. for a state visit.
Bessent to Meet Chinese Officials in Spain for TikTok, Trade Talks
Deep Look
The Trump administration’s ongoing balancing act with China continues this weekend as U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent heads to Madrid for high-level discussions with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng. The talks will center on tariffs, strategic economic concerns, and the future of TikTok, the wildly popular app caught at the heart of national security debates.
Fourth Round of U.S.-China Negotiations
According to the Treasury Department, this marks the fourth round of negotiations between American and Chinese delegations this year, following earlier meetings in London, Geneva, and Stockholm. Each round has yielded a series of 90-day pauses on escalating reciprocal tariffs, effectively holding off what many feared could spiral into a full-scale trade war.
During the Stockholm talks, Bessent described discussions with Chinese officials as “very fulsome,” emphasizing the need to “de-risk” strategic industries such as semiconductors, rare earth minerals, and pharmaceuticals.
“We talked about what we could do together to get into balance within the relationship,” Bessent said at the time.
Tariffs and Global Trade Tensions
China continues to pose one of the most complex challenges for the Trump administration’s trade policy. While Washington has struck tariff agreements with the United Kingdom, Japan, and the European Union, negotiations with Beijing remain fraught. The upcoming Madrid talks will seek progress on long-term solutions for tariff stability while addressing concerns about Chinese influence over critical industries.
TikTok Ownership in the Spotlight
Perhaps the most politically charged topic on the Madrid agenda is TikTok’s ownership. The U.S. Congress approved legislation mandating a nationwide ban unless ByteDance, the Chinese parent company, divests its controlling stake. President Donald Trump has repeatedly extended the sale deadline, now three times into his second term, with the next decision looming on Wednesday.
Despite congressional pressure, Trump has hinted at flexibility, saying last month he would “keep extending the deadline until there’s a buyer.” That indecision highlights TikTok’s complicated position as both a cultural phenomenon and a national security flashpoint.
A recent Pew Research Center survey illustrates Americans’ divided opinion: support for a TikTok ban has slipped from 50% in March 2023 to about one-third today. Another third oppose a ban outright, while the remaining respondents say they remain undecided.
Broader Strategic Context
For Washington, the Madrid meeting represents not only trade discussions but also an attempt to frame relations with Beijing in terms of strategic competition rather than open confrontation. Bessent’s focus on de-risking sectors like semiconductors underscores the U.S. strategy of supply chain security—ensuring critical goods are less dependent on China without severing ties completely.
Meanwhile, for Beijing, the talks offer a platform to push back against U.S. restrictions while emphasizing mutual economic benefits of cooperation. The pause in tariff escalation suggests both sides recognize the risks of further economic fragmentation.
Spain Meetings and Next Steps
Beyond discussions with He Lifeng, Bessent will also meet with Spanish government officials to strengthen U.S.-Spain relations, particularly around trade and financial cooperation.
Following the Madrid stop, Bessent will join President Trump in the United Kingdom for an official state visit at Windsor Castle with King Charles. That visit, heavily symbolic, comes as the Trump administration attempts to solidify its trade strategy in Europe while managing tensions with Beijing.
What’s at Stake
The Madrid negotiations could set the tone for the next phase of U.S.-China economic relations. Whether progress is made on tariffs or TikTok remains uncertain, but the outcomes could ripple across global supply chains, technology markets, and consumer access to one of the world’s most popular apps.
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