Top U.S. and Chinese officials met in Madrid to extend a fragile trade truce that is going to expire in November. These talks covered tariffs, export controls, rare earth minerals, and the fate of TikTok, with tensions rising after fresh chip‑industry restrictions on both sides. China’s exports to the U.S. have fallen 15%, pushing Beijing to deepen ties elsewhere, even as it battles overcapacity at home. A potential Trump–Xi meeting at next month’s APEC summit could shape the outcome, but for now, the world’s two largest economies remain locked in a delicate balance between cooperation and confrontation.
Rappeport, A. (2025, September 15). U.S. and China hold fourth round of trade talks as TikTok deadline looms. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/14/business/us-china-trade-tiktok-negotiations.html
A 15% drop in exports shows how much pressure tariffs are creating. If the truce ends in November, it could bring even more strain on trade and supply chains.
ReplyDeleteDo you think the upcoming APEC summit will bring any real breakthroughs on trade and tech issues, or are the U.S. and China too entrenched in their rivalry to make meaningful progress?
ReplyDeleteInterestingly, TikTok is being discussed in the same breath as tariffs and rare earths, since it shows how trade negotiations now extend far beyond just goods and into technology and data security. The mix of economic and political issues makes compromise much harder, because even if the two sides agree on tariffs, disagreements over tech platforms and export controls could still stall progress.
ReplyDeleteInterestingly enough, I did see word that Oracle (NYSE:ORCL) will be overseeing the algorithm of TikTok once/if the sale of the app is completed. I would like to see where this deal goes and who all the major players will be.
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