US President Donald Trump has indicated that he may consider reducing tariffs on Chinese imports as a bargaining tool to secure the sale of TikTok to a non-Chinese buyer. Trump also suggested that he might extend the 5 April deadline for a deal to be finalized.
The sell-or-be-banned order stems from legislation signed into law in 2024 under President Joe Biden, citing national security concerns over TikTok’s Chinese ownership. While Trump initially postponed the enforcement of the law earlier this year, he now expects at least an outline of an agreement by the deadline.
“With respect to TikTok, and China is going to have to play a role in that, possibly in the form of an approval, maybe, and I think they’ll do that,” Trump told reporters on Wednesday. “Maybe I’ll give them a little reduction in tariffs or something to get it done.”
Trump’s comments come as he announced new 25% tariffs on all imported cars and car parts, further escalating global trade tensions. The move marks another chapter in the ongoing trade dispute between the US and China.
The primary obstacle to TikTok’s sale has been obtaining Beijing’s approval. China has consistently opposed forced divestitures of its tech firms, asserting that such measures are politically motivated. Trump’s latest proposal to use tariff reductions as leverage echoes his past negotiation tactics.
On his first day back in office on 20 January, Trump had already warned of additional tariffs on China if it did not approve a TikTok sale. His stance on the app has shifted dramatically since his first presidency when he pushed for its ban. Now, Trump himself is an active user of TikTok, boasting over 15 million followers and leveraging the platform for his re-election campaign.
Meanwhile, US-China trade tensions continue to rise. In February, the US doubled tariffs on Chinese imports to 20%, prompting China to retaliate with its own tariff hikes on American agricultural products and restrictions on US aviation, defense, and technology firms.
China has urged Washington to engage in dialogue, but with TikTok’s fate still uncertain, trade negotiations remain fraught with uncertainty.
