President Donald Trump recently stated that a potential deal to sell TikTok to a non-Chinese buyer was nearly reached, but it was ultimately derailed due to the tariffs imposed by the United States on China last week. Speaking aboard Air Force One on Sunday, President Trump claimed that the Chinese government was on the verge of agreeing to the sale of TikTok to a group of American investors, but the new 34% tariffs on all Chinese imports influenced Beijing’s stance.
The popular video-sharing app, owned by Chinese tech giant ByteDance, has been under intense scrutiny in the United States due to national security concerns. The US government has expressed fears that the app could be used to collect data on American citizens, which could then be shared with the Chinese government. This concern led to the passage of a law last year requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a complete ban in the US.
President Trump confirmed that his administration had been close to finalizing an agreement that would allow TikTok to remain operational in the US, but he hinted that China’s reluctance to proceed with the deal was directly linked to the escalating trade tensions. He also noted that if the US were to ease the tariffs, the deal could be finalized quickly, underscoring the significant leverage tariffs have in diplomatic negotiations.
ByteDance, the Chinese company behind TikTok, acknowledged ongoing discussions with the US government. However, it pointed out that “key matters” still need to be resolved. The company emphasized that no final agreement had been reached, and any deal would need approval under Chinese law, adding another layer of complexity to the negotiation process.
As the deadline for TikTok to find a new buyer looms, the future of the app in the US remains uncertain. While President Trump’s comments suggest a possible breakthrough, it is clear that the outcome is still contingent on the resolution of several political and economic challenges, with tariffs playing a pivotal role in shaping the negotiations.
