Key Facts
• U.S. and China began their fourth ministerial-level trade talks on September 14 in Madrid.
• U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng participated.
• In May, both nations agreed to reduce additional tariffs and suspend some for 90 days.
• The suspension period was extended during July’s talks.
• Current discussions include tariffs and the issue surrounding TikTok’s U.S. operations.
• The Trump administration demanded TikTok’s U.S. business sale, with a deadline of September 17.
• Talks may also address China’s import of Russian crude oil amid the Ukraine conflict.
• The U.S. has urged G7 nations to impose tariffs on Russian oil imports to China and India.
Summary
The U.S. and China commenced their fourth ministerial-level trade talks in Madrid, focusing on tariffs and TikTok’s U.S. operations. Key participants include U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng. Previous agreements in May and July led to tariff reductions and extensions of suspension periods. The Trump administration’s demand for TikTok’s U.S. business sale, with a looming September 17 deadline, remains a critical issue. Additionally, discussions may cover China’s import of Russian crude oil, as the U.S. pushes G7 nations to impose tariffs on such imports due to the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
