The United States and China have reached a “framework” for a deal to settle their dispute over TikTok, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Monday after the two sides held trade talks in Madrid.
“We have a framework for a TikTok deal,” he told reporters, adding that US President Donald Trump and China’s Xi Jinping will speak on Friday to “complete” the agreement.
Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng opened the latest round of discussions in Madrid on Sunday, seeking to narrow differences on trade and technology that have strained relations between the world’s two largest economies.
TikTok is owned by China-based internet company ByteDance.
A federal law requiring TikTok’s sale or ban on national security grounds was due to take effect the day before US President Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20.
But the Republican, whose 2024 election campaign relied heavily on social media and who has said he is fond of TikTok, put the ban on pause.
In mid-June Trump extended a deadline for the popular video-sharing app by another 90 days to find a non-Chinese buyer or be banned in the United States.
That extension was due to expire on Wednesday.
While Trump had long supported a ban or divestment, he reversed his position and vowed to defend the platform — which boasts almost two billion global users — after coming to believe it helped him win young voters’ support in the November election.
The talks in Madrid also cover Trump’s threat of steep tariffs on Chinese imports.
Trade tensions escalated sharply earlier this year, with tit-for-tat tariffs reaching triple digits and snarling supply chains.
Both governments later agreed to roll back duties to 30% on US goods and 10% on Chinese exports, but the temporary truce expires in November.
