Key Points
- Two‑day Madrid talks (September 14–15, 2025): senior delegations led by He Lifeng (He Lifeng 何立峰) for China and Beisent (Beisent 贝森特) & Gelier (Gelier 格里尔) for the U.S. focused on TikTok and broader China–U.S. trade issues.
- Basic framework agreement: both sides reached a basic framework agreement to handle TikTok‑related issues cooperatively, reduce investment barriers where possible, and consult further on outcome wording.
- Legal and approval processes matter: China emphasized technology export approvals under Chinese law and protection of companies’ rights; both sides highlighted the need for domestic approval processes before any measures take effect.
- Watch items and impact: the text of the outcome documents and whether the U.S. will remove relevant restrictive measures will determine effects on investment flows, companies like TikTok, and broader global economic stability.
TikTok and broader China–U.S. trade relations were the focus of a two‑day meeting in Madrid on September 14–15, 2025.
Overview — Madrid meeting on TikTok, export controls, and investment
On September 14–15, 2025, senior Chinese and U.S. economic and trade officials met in Madrid, Spain, for two days of talks focused on TikTok and other bilateral trade concerns.
The Chinese delegation was led by Vice Premier He Lifeng (He Lifeng 何立峰).
The U.S. delegation was led by the U.S. Treasury official identified in Chinese reports as Beisent (Beisent 贝森特) and by Trade Representative Gelier (Gelier 格里尔).
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Main outcomes — framework agreement and follow-up
- Guided by the important consensus reached in a leaders’ phone call, both sides held candid, in‑depth and constructive discussions on issues of mutual concern in economic and trade relations.
- Delegations reached a basic framework agreement to handle TikTok‑related issues cooperatively, to reduce barriers to investment where possible, and to promote related economic and trade cooperation.
- Both sides agreed to consult further on the wording of outcome documents and to complete the necessary domestic approval processes in their respective countries.
Chinese delegation remarks — law, market principles, and company rights
Vice Premier He Lifeng (He Lifeng 何立峰) emphasized that China is firmly committed to defending its legitimate rights and will resolutely safeguard national interests and the lawful rights of Chinese‑invested enterprises operating overseas.
On the TikTok matter, He said China will carry out technology export approvals in accordance with Chinese law and regulation.
He added that the Chinese government respects the wishes of Chinese companies operating abroad and supports their right to negotiate on an equal commercial basis with partners, provided such negotiations follow market principles.
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Appeal for reciprocal steps — a call for de‑escalation and stability
He Lifeng stressed that the fundamental nature of China–U.S. economic and trade relations is mutual benefit: cooperation brings gains to both sides, while confrontation hurts both.
He called on the U.S. to meet China halfway and to swiftly remove relevant restrictive measures, so that the two sides can build on any progress from these talks and create a constructive atmosphere for the stability and continuity of bilateral economic relations.
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Shared assessment and next steps — consultation mechanisms and global impact
Both delegations agreed that stable China–U.S. economic and trade relations matter greatly to both countries and have important implications for global economic stability and growth.
They said they will continue implementing the leaders’ agreed points and prior trade‑talk outcomes, make full use of existing China–U.S. trade consultation mechanisms, work to deepen consensus, resolve differences, strengthen cooperation, and pursue more win‑win results.
The stated goal is to help China–U.S. economic and trade ties develop in a healthy, stable and sustainable way and to inject greater stability into the world economy.
What to watch for — documents, approvals, and policy changes
- Text and details of the outcome documents after the two sides finish consultations.
- Domestic approval steps in each country that the parties said are required before any arrangements take effect.
- Whether the U.S. will lift or modify specific restrictive measures referenced in the talks, and how that would affect investment flows and companies like TikTok.
- Outcome Document Details: The final text and specifics of the agreements after further consultations.
- Domestic Approval Processes: Steps taken by both U.S. and China to legally enact any agreed measures.
- U.S. Restrictive Measures: Whether specific U.S. restrictions mentioned in talks are lifted or modified.
- Investment Flows Impact: Effects on the movement of capital and business operations between the two countries.
- TikTok’s Future: How these changes specifically affect TikTok’s operational environment and status.
Practical takeaways for investors, founders, and tech teams
Short term: Expect a period of consultation where wording matters more than headlines.
Mid term: Domestic approval processes in both countries may be the gating factor for any concrete changes.
Strategic for founders and investors: Use this window to map scenario plans for regulatory risk, supply‑chain flexibility, and potential shifts in cross‑border investment rules.
For tech and product teams: Clarify compliance paths for export controls and data protection requirements in case approvals alter technology export rules.
Why this matters: Stable China–U.S. economic ties can lower policy risk, and any easing of restrictive measures could influence investment flows and market access for companies operating across both markets.
Linking opportunities — where to connect this story on your site
Consider linking to pages about export controls, data security, China–U.S. trade policy, and corporate compliance guides for cross‑border investments.
Good anchor texts include: “TikTok policy updates”, “China export controls”, “U.S. investment restrictions”, and “cross‑border compliance”.
SEO and content tips for republishing this coverage
Use the keyword phrase “TikTok China U.S. trade talks” in page title, meta description, and H1 to improve discoverability.
Break long sections into short paragraphs and bullet lists to increase time on page and readability for both humans and search engines.
Link to authoritative sources on trade policy and Chinese regulatory requirements when possible to improve trust signals for search crawlers.
Bottom line
These Madrid talks are a meaningful step toward managing TikTok‑related tensions through structured consultation and legal‑process pathways rather than abrupt policy moves.
Watch the follow‑up documents and domestic approvals closely to understand how quickly any practical changes could reach markets and companies.
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