China Makes TikTok’s Survival In US A Precondition As Madrid Trade Talks Begin

Last Updated:September 14, 2025, 19:51 IST

China and US officials, met in Madrid to discuss trade, tariffs, and TikTok, with talks at Palacio de Santa Cruz amid ongoing economic tensions.

The hiring activity comes just weeks after TikTok's website became partially accessible to some users in India, fuelling speculation that the short-video platform could be preparing for a comeback. (Representative Image)

China kicked off trade talks with United States officials in Madrid on Sunday, Beijing’s state media and the Spanish government said.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and senior Chinese officials, including Vice Premier He Lifeng, are set to discuss economic and trade matters, along with TikTok. Officials from both sides have confirmed.

“The Chinese and US delegations convened here on Sunday for talks on economic and trade issues," the official Xinhua news agency said in a report from the Spanish capital.

According to the Sunday commentary, TikTok has operated in the US for many years, “amassing a huge user base and high user loyalty, is deeply loved by the American people and has made positive contributions to promoting US employment and stimulating consumption".

It contended that TikTok’s success stemmed from market dynamics and corporate innovation, and that its lawful operations should be treated fairly.

According to the Chinese officials, the country’s delegation will be in Madrid until Wednesday. Trade tensions between Beijing and Washington have been on a rollercoaster ride in 2025, with both sides slapping escalating tariffs on each other.

Earlier this year, US-China tariffs escalated to triple digits on both sides, disrupting supply chains.

Since then, Washington and Beijing have reached an agreement to de-escalate tensions, temporarily lowering tariffs to 30 per cent on the United States’ side and 10 per cent on China’s part.

They delayed the threatened reimposition of higher tariffs in August, on each other’s exports for another 90 days — meaning the pause on steeper duties will be in place until November 10.

Top leaders from both countries will also discuss their TikTok dispute during the meetings.

On Friday, China called on the United States to resolve their dispute over the social media platform through dialogue. The deadline for TikTok to secure a non-Chinese buyer—or face a US ban—is September 17, following a third extension by President Donald Trump.

A federal law requiring TikTok’s sale or ban on national security grounds was due to take effect the day before Trump’s January inauguration.

On Friday, Beijing’s commerce ministry called on Washington to “work with China based on mutual respect and equal consultations, to resolve each other’s concerns through dialogue and find a solution to the problem", according to a statement.

Separately, the Spanish government stated that Sunday’s talks began at the Palacio de Santa Cruz, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ headquarters.

News world China Makes TikTok’s Survival In US A Precondition As Madrid Trade Talks Begin

Read More