China, US Resume Tariff Talks in Madrid amid rising tensions

International - بین الاقوامی , / Sunday, September 14th, 2025

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The United States and China opened a fresh round of trade negotiations in Spain on Sunday, with discussions focusing on tariffs, security, and economic issues that continue to strain relations between the world’s two largest economies.
Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent are heading their respective delegations. The meetings, held at Spain’s Foreign Ministry in Madrid, will run for four days until Wednesday. Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares welcomed the delegations, saying on X that Spain is “honored by the trust of both in choosing Madrid” and emphasizing that Spanish foreign policy prioritizes dialogue and agreement.
The talks come as Washington pressures its European allies to impose tariffs on Beijing over its purchases of Russian oil. A temporary suspension on US tariffs for Chinese imports, extended until November, has provided both sides with breathing room to negotiate. A 10 percent reciprocal tariff, however, remains in effect.
According to the US Treasury Department, the agenda also includes discussions on “key national security, economic, and trade issues of mutual interest,” notably TikTok and cooperation against money-laundering networks. TikTok, owned by China’s ByteDance, faces a potential nationwide ban in the United States unless it divests its US operations. President Donald Trump recently extended the enforcement deadline by 90 days to Sept. 17.
The current round marks the fourth set of negotiations in as many months, underscoring persistent efforts to prevent a collapse of the fragile tariff truce. Observers note that the talks may pave the way for a potential meeting between US and Chinese leaders at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea next month.