US and Chinese officials have made significant progress in their ongoing trade negotiations, particularly focusing on issues related to TikTok, the popular social media app that has been at the center of national security concerns in the United States.
During a meeting in Madrid—reported as the fourth round of trade talks since the onset of a tariff war initiated by President Donald Trump in April—the two parties announced that a basic framework consensus has been reached to address TikTok-related issues.
Li Chenggang, China’s international trade representative, emphasized the need for cooperation in resolving these matters, aiming to lower investment barriers and enhance economic ties between the two nations.
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer affirmed that the negotiations have been heavily focused on ensuring a fair agreement regarding TikTok, which honors American national security standards.
Bessent, a US official, stated, “We are not going to talk about the commercial terms of the deal… But the commercial terms have been agreed upon.”
One of the pivotal points in the discussions pertains to the use of intellectual property rights, specifically TikTok’s algorithm. Wang Jingtao, deputy director of China’s Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, reported that both sides have reached an understanding regarding the authorization of these rights and the handling of US user data and content security.
Concerns in the US stem from TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, with officials wary of Chinese laws requiring companies to hand over data to the government. The proprietary algorithm that determines the content users see on the app has also been a major sticking point.
President Donald Trump has consistently extended the deadline for a potential TikTok ban, which is currently set to expire two days before he and Chinese President Xi Jinping are scheduled to discuss the final details of the trade framework.
While Trump has not specifically addressed the impending deadline, he has claimed the ability to indefinitely delay the ban.
Wendy Cutler, a senior vice president at the Asia Society Policy Institute, remarked that it appears both nations might be nearing a resolution that would involve transferring ownership of TikTok to a US-based company, which would indicate a notable advancement in alleviating this ongoing bilateral issue.
Despite progress on the TikTok front, many longstanding issues, such as export controls and investments, remain unresolved.
Bessent acknowledged that money laundering tied to drug trafficking has been a point of shared concern between the two countries.
In response to the negotiations, Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng characterized the atmosphere as “candid, in-depth, and constructive.” He reaffirmed the importance of these discussions in seeking a path forward.
Nonetheless, Li Chenggang reiterated China’s stance against the politicization of technology and trade issues, criticizing US practices as unilateral bullying. He called for the removal of restrictive measures imposed on Chinese companies and asserted that agreements should not compromise their principles and interests.
He also accused the United States of exaggerating the concept of national security while imposing sanctions against many Chinese firms.
Comments made by President Donald Trump regarding the war in Ukraine have stirred additional controversy, as he suggested that the conflict could end if NATO nations halted purchasing Russian oil and instituted substantial tariffs on China. The Chinese Commerce Ministry condemned this as a classic example of economic coercion.
Looking ahead, analysts are anticipating a possible summit between President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping, which could take place within weeks coinciding with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea at the end of October.
Despite an optimistic outlook for the next round of trade talks, Cutler warned that further groundwork at lower levels is crucial for a Trump-Xi meeting to be successful.
She noted that the timeline appears tight for reaching a meaningful trade agreement, and what may instead develop are incremental deals, such as commitments from China to purchase more U.S. agricultural products and a potential postponement of additional high-tech export controls.
As the discussions progress, the focus on TikTok and broader economic concerns showcases both nations’ efforts to navigate complex trade relations while safeguarding their respective national interests.
Boak and Tang contributed reporting from Washington, with additional input from Associated Press writer Mark Sherman.
image source from：pbs
