Trump Signals New Talks with China Over TikTok Deal
President Donald Trump announced plans to reopen discussions with China as early as next week regarding a possible agreement on the popular video app TikTok, which boasts around 170 million users in the United States. Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump shared optimism about reaching a deal, potentially involving Chinese President Xi Jinping or his representatives.
Negotiations Expected to Start Early Next Week
"We’re going to start Monday or Tuesday talking to China, perhaps President Xi or one of his representatives, and we pretty much have a deal," Trump stated. He also noted that the approval of the Chinese government would be a crucial element for finalizing any agreement.
When asked about confidence levels in China's consent, Trump replied, "I’m not confident, but I think so. President Xi and I have a great relationship, and I think it’s good for them. I think the deal is good for China and it’s good for us."
Leadership Exchange Possible Amid Renewed Talks
In addition to negotiations, the President hinted at a possible diplomatic visit, suggesting that he might visit China or welcome Xi Jinping to the United States. This follows earlier discussions about mutual visits between the two leaders.
Background: TikTok’s Controversial U.S. Presence and Delayed Sale
The TikTok saga has been marked by a series of extensions and negotiations allowing ByteDance, TikTok's China-based parent company, more time to restructure ownership amid security concerns. In June, Trump extended the deadline for ByteDance to divest its U.S. assets by another 90 days, marking the third such delay to avoid an outright ban.
- Earlier efforts aimed to spin off TikTok's U.S. operations into a majority American-owned entity to ease regulatory worries.
- However, progress stalled after China objected, particularly following the introduction of new tariffs on Chinese goods announced by Trump.
- Trump initially acted swiftly upon returning to office, issuing executive orders to enforce the ban or a forced sale after the Supreme Court upheld the ban.
- Previous deadlines set in April had pushed the sale date to mid-June, with the latest extension moving it to September.
TikTok Responds Positively to Extension
On the day of the President’s announcement, TikTok expressed appreciation for the administration’s handling of the matter. The company stated, "We are grateful for President Trump’s leadership and will continue to work with Vice President Vance’s office to reach an agreement."
What Lies Ahead?
With talks set to begin soon, both sides appear cautiously optimistic about securing a resolution that addresses national security concerns while allowing TikTok to operate in the U.S. The prospect of high-level diplomatic engagement adds a layer of significance, suggesting broader strategic dialogues may influence the outcome.
