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Donald Trump, the President of the United States, has hinted that he may consider reducing tariffs on China in order to facilitate an agreement that would require the Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell TikTok. The popular social media app, with 170 million users in the United States, faces the possibility of divestment or an outright ban by the US, with a deadline set for April 5.
Trump told reporters that any deal must be agreed to in Beijing. "Maybe it's a little reduction in tariffs or that he could impose new tariffs if Beijing did not approve a US deal for TikTok," he stated. Subsequently, the Trump administration has increased tariffs on all Chinese imports by 20%.
Following that, Trump stated that China must approve any agreement, and a tariff reduction might induce approval. "Something to get it done," meaning the imposition of tariffs on China for non-reaction.
A report from Reuters also indicated that he might even consider an extension of the April 5 deadline if an agreement is not reached in time, reiterating that his administration prioritizes TikTok ownership. Trump has, in the past, taken a hard line against China on trade and technology issues, using tariffs as leverage.
He intended to have consequences for China if it didn't settle this immediately and has made it one of the major strategies in his economic approach toward China. His views on America's economic future incorporate strong positions against trade all along.
Concerns regarding TikTok's Chinese ownership have persisted in Washington, with lawmakers citing fears that the app may be used for data collection and influence operations and thus pose a threat to U.S. interests by the Chinese government in association with another. In 2024, Congress passed a law sanctioning the sale of TikTok's U.S. operations by ByteDance by January 19, given threats to national security.
An executive order postponed the ban's enforcement until April 5, after a brief ban enforcement following a Supreme Court order. Negotiations have been active at the White House, with current reports suggesting that talks have revolved around some non-Chinese investors increasing stakes in ByteDance to comply with ownership requirements.
According to Vice President JD Vance, a general agreement on deals should occur on April 5 for now, while many users still access TikTok as they await the final resolution of this complex international business dispute.
