Former President Donald Trump indicated on Wednesday that he might consider lowering tariffs on China to facilitate a deal for ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of TikTok, to sell the popular social media app, which is used by 170 million Americans.
ByteDance faces an April 5 deadline to secure a non-Chinese buyer for TikTok or risk a U.S. ban under a 2024 law aimed at addressing national security concerns. The legislation stems from fears in Washington that TikTok’s Chinese ownership could make it vulnerable to influence from Beijing, potentially allowing the Chinese government to gather data on American users or conduct influence operations.
Trump stated that he would be open to extending the April deadline if a deal was not finalized in time. Acknowledging China’s involvement in any potential agreement, he suggested that offering a slight reduction in tariffs could help move negotiations forward.
“Maybe I’ll give them a little reduction in tariffs or something to get it done,” Trump told reporters.
TikTok has not yet commented on the matter.
Trump’s remarks highlight the importance his administration places on securing a deal for TikTok’s sale, even considering trade concessions with China as part of the negotiation strategy.
