WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump said he may lower tariffs on China to facilitate TikTok ‘s sale.
ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, faces an April 5 deadline to find a non-Chinese buyer.
If a deal isn’t reached, TikTok could be banned in the U.S. due to national security concerns.
Washington worries that ByteDance’s ownership allows China to access American user data.
Trump is open to extending the April deadline if necessary.
China’s Role
Trump acknowledged that China must approve any deal.
He suggested offering tariff reductions as an incentive for Beijing.
China’s commerce ministry reaffirmed its stance on tariffs and engagement with the U.S.
TikTok has not made an official comment on the situation.
The sale is a high priority for Trump’s administration.
Tariffs as Leverage
Trump recently increased tariffs on all Chinese imports by 20%.
He previously used tariffs as a bargaining tool in TikTok negotiations.
On January 20, he warned of imposing more tariffs if China refused a deal.
Getting Beijing to surrender a valuable business remains a major challenge.
Vice President JD Vance expects an agreement by April 5.
Legal and Political Landscape
The bipartisan-supported law requires ByteDance to sell TikTok.
The app briefly shut down in January when the Supreme Court upheld the ban.
It resumed operations days later when Trump postponed enforcement.
His executive order moved the deadline to April 5, with a possible extension.
The White House plays an unusually active role in the deal’s progress.
Future Uncertain
Nearly half of Americans use TikTok, making its fate a national issue.
The administration is working closely to finalize an agreement.
China’s approval remains a key factor in completing the deal.
Trump’s comments indicate a willingness to negotiate with Beijing.
More updates are expected as the deadline approaches.
