U.S. Open to Extending Tariff Pause After Talks With China, Trade Chief Greer Says

The United States signaled on Monday (September 15) that it is open to extending the current 90-day pause on tariffs imposed on China, as trade negotiations in Madrid concluded on a cautiously positive note. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told reporters that the decision would depend on progress in the talks, which have also focused on securing rare earth supplies.

The discussions, led by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, marked the fourth round of negotiations in four months. Officials confirmed that both sides reached a framework agreement to shift TikTok to U.S.-controlled ownership, a move expected to be finalized during a scheduled call between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday (September 19).

The talks, however, were overshadowed by Beijing’s announcement of an anti-monopoly probe into U.S. chipmaker Nvidia. Bessent criticized the timing of the move, which analysts view as retaliation against Washington’s restrictions on China’s semiconductor sector.

Beyond trade tensions with Beijing, U.S. officials also met with Spanish authorities, welcoming plans for Spain to open a new trade office in Houston. Greer described U.S.-Spain trade relations as “good and healthy.”