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Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Trump Tees Up a TikTok Deal, But Is China Biting?

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will China allow a TikTok deal with U.S. apps?

Photo Credit: Henry Chen

The ongoing saga surrounding TikTok’s future in the United States has reached a new level of uncertainty. Chinese officials have declined to comment on Trump’s claims of an imminent deal to bring the app under American ownership.

Speaking with reporters this week, Trump asserted, “I think we’re going to start Monday or Tuesday… talking to China, President Xi or one of his representatives—we pretty much have a deal on TikTok. Yet China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning sidestepped a question asking about the supposed deal touted by Trump. Ning reiterated that China’s position on TikTok has been “stated many times” and offered no new details.

Chinese authorities have demonstrated persistent reluctance to endorse any deal involving the forced sale of TikTok’s U.S. operations. The Chinese Commerce Ministry made its position explicit as early as 2023, declaring that China would “oppose any forced sale of TikTok’s U.S. operations.” The sale of TikTok’s algorithm requires approval according to Chinese law.

China’s reticence about a potential sale revolves around TikTok’s algorithm. Alex Capri, a lecturer at the National University of Singapore’s Business school notes that, “Even if Beijing were to overlook the recent increases in tariffs and the tightening of U.S. export controls on chips, they wouldn’t export licenses for [TikTok’s] algorithms.”

This diplomatic silence comes as ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, faces a looming September 17 deadline to divest U.S. operations or face a ban. Trump has already extended this ban deadline three times due to a supposed deal—but those extensions feel like kicking the can down the road rather than actual progress. TikTok boasts over 170 million monthly active users in the United States, with around 60% of American teens and about one-third of adults using the platform.

Rumors suggest TikTok is developing a new version of its app tailored for U.S. users, which is set to launch ahead of the September 17 deadline. Users would be required to download this new app to continue accessing the platform, with the existing version ceasing operations by March of next year.

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This post was originally authored and published by Ashley King Digital Music News via RSS Feed. Join today to get your news feed on Nationwide Report®.

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