Trump’s unanswered possibility reduces Chinese tariffs to make Tiktok sales occur
U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday he is willing to lower tariffs to tie a deal with Tiktok’s Chinese parents to sell short video apps used by 170 million Americans.
BYTEDANCE will be on the April 5 deadline to find non-Chinese buyers of Tiktok or face a U.S. ban on national security venues that would have come into effect under the 2024 law.
Trump said he is willing to extend the deadline if no agreement on social media apps is reached.
“In terms of Tiktok, China will have to play a role in recognition, maybe they think they will do that. Maybe I’ll give them a reduction in tariffs or something to do to accomplish,” Trump told reporters on Wednesday.
Tiktok did not comment immediately.
Getting China to agree to any deal to waive control of multi-billion-dollar Tiktok units has been the biggest key point in completing any agreement. Trump has used tariffs as a bargaining chip in the Tiktok negotiations in the past.
Tariffs threatened earlier
On January 20, the first day of his tenure, he warned that he could impose tariffs on China if Beijing fails to approve an agreement with Tiktok. Earlier this month, Trump put forward additional tariffs on all imports from China, up 20% from 10% of the February issuance.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance said he hopes a general term for an agreement that will reach ownership of social media platforms by April 5.
The future of apps used by nearly half of Americans has been in the air since the laws passed last year passed overwhelming bipartisan support, demanding that Tiktok be stripped by January 19.
The app briefly turned black in January after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the ban, but once Trump took office, it was ignored for another lifetime. Trump quickly issued an executive order to postpone the enforcement of the law until April 5, and said last month that he could further extend the deadline to give himself time to the agreement.
The White House has effectively played the role of investment banks in the transaction negotiations that are closely watched.
