President Donald Trump suggested that he could reduce prices on China in a last -minute effort to conclude an agreement that would force Bytedance, the Chinese parent company of Tiktok, to yield its American operations.
With a April 5 Deadline approaching quickly, Trump The administration rushes to finalize an agreement which would approach Concerns of national security while allowing Tiktok to continue to operate in the country.
“Maybe I will Give them a little prices reduction or something to do it,“” Trump said at a press conference on Wednesday. “”Tiktok is big, but each point of the prices is worth more than Tiktok. “”
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The remark indicates that Trump now considers trade as a negotiation program in Tiktok negotiations, seeking to put pressure on China to allow Bytedance to sell the applications US Arm. However, it is not clear if Beijing will be willing to make concessions, because Chinese officials have repeatedly opposed forced misunderstanding, by translating it as an unjust commercial practice.
A long battle on Tiktok
The latest developments are involved in a several-year battle between Washington and Beijing on Tiktok, which has become a world central social media with more than 150 million users in the United States, the platform, known for its short videos, viral trends and its content focused on algorithm, has been in the center of National security debates since 2020.
The concerns about Tiktok began during Trump First term when intelligence agencies and American legislators have raised fears that Bytedance is forced to share the data of American users with the Chinese government under Beijing Cybersecurity laws. Tiktok opponents argue that its data collection practices – similar to other social media platforms – present a unique risk because the company has its headquarters in China.
In 2020, Trump tried to ban Tiktok squarely, issuing a decree that would have prohibited American companies from carrying out transactions with Bytedance. However, this decision was blocked by the American courts, which judged that the administration lacked legal authority to enforce such a ban without regular procedure.
Since then, efforts to force a sale of Tiktok American operations continued under both Trump and his predecessor, Joe Biden. Last year, legislators presented a bill aimed at banning Tiktok or forcing Bytedance to depart. THE Invoice was signed place by Biden in April. According to the law, Tiktok Bytedance of parents based in China was supposed to find an American buyer in the 270 days, (about nine months) or be prohibited January 19.
In January, Trump signed an executive decree extending the deadline for Bytedance to sell Tiktok US ARM at April 52025. This decision has provided a temporary window of grace for negotiations to continue, but As the deadline approaches, There has been little sign of progress. If Tiktok is not sold to a buyer approved by April 5The original law which prohibits it on a national scale will once again come into force.
Trump New strategy: using prices as a lever effect
NOW, With the time that runs out, Trump seems to move his approach, binding the sale of Tiktok to broader commercial problems with China. His suggestion that he could reduce prices in exchange for China Cooperation reflects the high issues of the situation.
The Trump administration has imposed rigorous prices on Chinese imports as part of His long trade war with Beijing. These prices, which cover everything from electronics to industrial machines, have had a significant impact on Global supply chains and add billions of costs for American companies and consumers.
However, Trump reports that he is ready to make economic concessions to secure Tiktok Disinstructing by offering a partial reduction in prices.
Will China hold its position of resistance to a forced sale?
China has repeatedly opposed the forced sale of Tiktok, arguing that it violates the principles of free trade and unjustly targets a Chinese business. In 2020, Beijing updated its technological export regulations to include algorithms – considerably considered as a movement to prevent the sale from selling Tiktok Powerful recommendation system to an American company.
Given this story, it is uncertain how China will react Trump Last offer. If Beijing continues to resist, the administration can face a difficult choice:
- Extend the deadline again, pushing the problem further in the future, Or
- Go ahead with a ban or legal action, risking reactions to Tiktok user scale and potential diplomatic tensions with China.
Political and economic issues
Trump Managing the Tiktok problem does not only concern national security-It is also on economic and political influence. The administration has floated the idea that the US government should maintain a 50% stake in Tiktok through a joint venture, ensuring American control over the business Operations.
In addition, Tiktok remains a important platform for young people, many of whom have rejected against efforts to prohibit or regulate the application.
Vice-president JD Vance expressed his optimism that an agreement will be concluded before the April deadline.
“THere, it will be almost certainly a high level agreement which, I think“” Vance told NBC News earlier this month.
The deadline for the decree doesn’t seem to be settled in stone. Like the April 5 The deadline is looming, if no agreement is concluded, the administration may be forced to extend the deadline again – something that Trump has already suggested a possibility.
“”WBefore will have a form of an agreement, but if It is not finished, It is Not a big problem,“” Trump said on Wednesday. “”GOOD Just extend it. “”
