The US Treasury Department said in a statement the talks would focus on “national security, economic and trade issues of mutual interest, including TikTok and co-operating on money-laundering networks that threaten both the United States and China”.
China’s state media agency Xinhua said the two sides would discuss issues including “the US unilateral tariff measures, the abuse of export controls and TikTok”. TikTok had not featured in earlier rounds of trade discussions in Geneva, London and Stockholm.
TikTok users advocating for the app in Washington last year.Credit: AP
The talks are being held against the backdrop of a potential summit with Xi and Trump before both leaders attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation conference in Seoul on October 31.
China has formally invited Trump to Beijing, but insufficient progress on tariff discussions and US frustration at China’s alleged inaction on curbing fentanyl-related exports had reduced the odds of a leader summit, with sideline talks at APEC more likely, The Financial Times reported.
Wendy Cutler, a former US trade negotiator and head of the Asia Society Policy Institute in Washington, said she expected any major breakthroughs on the trade negotiations to be saved for a Trump-Xi summit.
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These may include a final resolution on TikTok, a lifting of restrictions on Chinese purchases of American soybeans and a reduction of fentanyl-related tariffs on Chinese goods, she added.
“Frankly, I don’t think China is in any rush to do an agreement where they don’t get substantial concessions on export controls and lower tariffs, which are their key priorities,” she told Reuters.
“And I don’t see the United States in a position to make major concessions on either, unless there’s some breakthrough on its demands to China.”
