China, U.S. to Meet in Spain Over TikTok, Trade Disputes
Top Chinese and U.S. officials are slated to meet in Spain this weekend to address a growing list of trade and technology disputes, including the fate of TikTok, the video-sharing platform facing a potential ban in the United States.
China’s Ministry of Commerce said Friday that Vice Premier He Lifeng will travel to Madrid to lead the Chinese delegation in meetings with a U.S. team led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent from Sept. 14 to 17. The agenda includes discussions on tariffs, export controls and the forced divestment of TikTok’s U.S. operations.
The meetings come ahead of a key deadline set by the Trump administration, which has ordered TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance Ltd., to sell its U.S. business by Sept. 17 or face a nationwide ban, citing national security concerns over user data.
“China’s position on the TikTok issue is clear and consistent,” a Commerce Ministry spokesperson said. “The government is determined to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.”
Beijing also urged Washington to provide a “fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment” for Chinese firms operating in the U.S.
U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly commented on the matter, calling the app a national security risk while also confirming American interest in acquiring TikTok. On August 22, he stated that the U.S. government was still evaluating national security concerns but noted, “we have very substantial American buyers that want to buy it.” Trump has signed three executive orders that have repeatedly pushed back the deadline for a potential ban.
Any divestment of TikTok would require approval from the Chinese government. In 2020, China added data-driven recommendation algorithms — like TikTok’s core technology — to its export-control list. That means ByteDance must obtain an export license before selling any part of the company.
ByteDance and TikTok have pushed back against reports of a pending deal. In July, TikTok’s U.S. website labeled speculation as inaccurate, and ByteDance denied media reports suggesting it had reached a deal with Oracle.
Contact reporter Han Wei (weihan@caixin.com)
caixinglobal.com is the English-language online news portal of Chinese financial and business news media group Caixin. Global Neighbours is authorized to reprint this article.
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