Trade negotiations between Beijing and Washington reconvened Monday at Madrid's foreign ministry building. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng guide their respective delegations through discussions scheduled until Wednesday. AFP reporters witnessed officials entering the ministry headquarters that morning. The talks address President Trump's proposed steep import duties and Washington's demand for TikTok's divestiture from Chinese ownership by September 17. Supply chains suffered disruption when reciprocal tariffs reached triple-digit levels earlier this year.
Both nations previously reduced duties to 30 percent on American products and 10 percent on Chinese goods. This temporary agreement expires in November. Beijing requested last week that disputes be settled through mutual respect and equal negotiations. China initiated investigations into the semiconductor sector against the United States over the weekend. The Madrid meetings may establish a foundation for a potential Trump-Xi summit before the end of the year, although negotiators must stabilize current tensions while resolving technology access disputes and rare earth export disagreements.
Both nations previously reduced duties to 30 percent on American products and 10 percent on Chinese goods. This temporary agreement expires in November. Beijing requested last week that disputes be settled through mutual respect and equal negotiations. China initiated investigations into the semiconductor sector against the United States over the weekend. The Madrid meetings may establish a foundation for a potential Trump-Xi summit before the end of the year, although negotiators must stabilize current tensions while resolving technology access disputes and rare earth export disagreements.
