Overview

• Chinese state media confirmed the leaders spoke on Sept. 19, with a White House official saying the call began around 8 a.m. Washington time.
• Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said negotiators reached a framework in Madrid, but control of the recommendation algorithm, U.S. user data safeguards and Chinese regulatory sign‑off remain unresolved.
• Under a 2024 U.S. law, TikTok must be separated from ByteDance or face a ban, and President Trump has extended the divestiture deadline to Dec. 16, 2025.
• Lawmakers from both parties insist any deal place the data and algorithm in American hands, while reports describe a potential U.S. investor consortium under discussion to acquire the U.S. business.
• The talks unfold as a tariff truce that capped U.S. rates at 30% and China’s at 10% is set to expire in early November, with a possible in‑person Trump‑Xi meeting at the APEC summit under discussion.