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US, China talk trade amid threats over Russian oil, TikTok ban

Monday, September 15, 2025

US, China talk trade amid threats over Russian oil, TikTok ban

Heiwai Tang, Director of the Asia Global Institute, explains in Al Jazeera, "China has rare earth and the manufacturing capacity that the US needs, while the US has the market that China can’t easily replace with another one. So both have some bargaining power against each other."

US and Chinese officials are currently engaged in trade talks in Spain, navigating a complex landscape of tensions surrounding Russian oil and the potential TikTok ban. Led by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, these discussions are geared towards de-escalating economic friction. Policy experts suggest that a potential summit between Trump and Xi Jinping is likely to be a significant point of consideration during these discussions.

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Author

Heiwai Tang

Director, Asia Global Institute

Heiwai Tang

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