Adapted by:
Juan Carlos López
Senior WriterAn engineer by training. A science and tech journalist by passion, vocation, and conviction. I've been writing professionally for over two decades, and I suspect I still have a long way to go. At Xataka, I write about many topics, but I mainly enjoy covering nuclear fusion, quantum physics, quantum computers, microprocessors, and TVs.
Alba Mora
WriterAn established tech journalist, I entered the world of consumer tech by chance in 2018. In my writing and translating career, I've also covered a diverse range of topics, including entertainment, travel, science, and the economy.
President Donald Trump has just written a new chapter in TikTok’s ongoing saga. 170 million Americans currently use the Chinese-owned social media platform. However, ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, only has a few days to find a buyer to stay operational in the U.S. The Trump administration set a deadline of April 5 for TikTok to be sold to a non-Chinese company. Otherwise, the app will face a ban in the country on national security grounds.
Trump and his advisors have expressed concerns that the Chinese government could potentially use TikTok to exert influence and collect data from American users. To prevent this, they aim to eliminate any control China has over the platform.
Donald Trump Is Willing to Ease Tariffs on China
Trump understands that the Chinese government plays a significant role in ByteDance’s future. Any sale of TikTok to a foreign company must receive approval from the Chinese government, but negotiations seem to have reached a stalemate. According to Reuters, Trump recently confirmed that he’s open to extending the April deadline if an agreement regarding TikTok isn’t reached.
Trump hasn’t specified yet how much he’s willing to reduce.
Trump has also reportedly suggested easing tariffs on China if it helps sever TikTok from President Xi Jinping’s influence. However, he’s yet to provide details on how much he’ll reduce and the sectors that would benefit from this measure. Notably, the Trump administration recently imposed additional tariffs of 20% on all Chinese imports.
This situation clearly reflects the high stakes the U.S. government places on TikTok. Otherwise, Trump wouldn’t use tariffs as a negotiating tool. China’s commerce ministry responded, albeit ambiguously, saying that its position on tariffs remains unchanged. It added that the Chinese government is willing to engage with Washington based on mutual respect, equality, and benefit.
However, China hasn’t made any comments yet on the issue of TikTok.
Image | Solen Feyissa
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