China, US Trade Envoys Plan Discussing Tariffs

(MENAFN) China’s senior trade negotiator, Vice Premier He Lifeng, and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent are set to engage in discussions on tariffs during a meeting in Spain.

As reported by the Chinese Commerce Ministry, the Chinese official is expected to stay in Madrid from Sunday until Wednesday.

The US Treasury Department also verified the upcoming discussions, stating that Bessent and He will deliberate on "key national security, economic, and trade issues of mutual interest, including TikTok and cooperating on money laundering networks that threaten both the United States and China."

TikTok is currently under threat of a countrywide ban in the United States due to security-related reasons.

In 2024, the US Congress approved bipartisan legislation that mandates ByteDance, the Chinese firm that owns TikTok, to either sell its American business or face a sweeping ban.

The move stems from fears over possible data access by the Chinese government.

However, a presidential order signed in June by US President Donald Trump granted a 90-day extension of the enforcement deadline, pushing the date to September 17.

This marks the third time the administration has delayed the possible ban.

A spokesperson from the Chinese Commerce Ministry urged Washington on Friday to handle the situation through dialogue grounded in mutual respect and negotiation.

They also called on the US to ensure an "open, fair, just, and non-discriminatory business environment" for Chinese enterprises functioning within American borders.

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