China has swiftly rejected President Donald Trump‘s offer to reduce tariffs in exchange for Beijing’s approval of a TikTok sale.
Trump suggested that he might lower tariffs on Chinese goods to facilitate a deal involving ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, which faces a U.S. ban due to national security concerns.
A U.S. law requires ByteDance to divest its stake in TikTok by April 5 or face a ban. Trump had delayed the enforcement of this law, allowing TikTok to continue operating in the U.S. He indicated that he might extend the deadline if a deal is not reached in time.
Trump told reporters that China would need to play a role in approving any sale, possibly through a reduction in tariffs. However, Beijing’s foreign ministry reiterated its consistent stance against additional tariffs and did not accept Trump’s proposal.
The future of TikTok remains uncertain as several groups, including Microsoft and Oracle, have expressed interest in acquiring the app. An initiative called “The People’s Bid for TikTok” and a group involving Internet personality MrBeast are also potential buyers.
Despite these efforts, TikTok does not seem eager to sell, and any acquisition could raise concerns about maintaining ByteDance’s control over the app’s algorithm.
In January, TikTok temporarily shut down in the U.S. as the deadline for divestment approached, but it resumed operations after Trump’s delay. The app’s fate continues to hang in the balance as the April deadline draws near.
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