By Michelle Ndaga
U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping have made headway in negotiations over TikTok, paving the way for a meeting between the two leaders at the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in South Korea next month.
In a recent phone conversation, the two discussed a deal that would enable TikTok to continue operating in the U.S., despite earlier legislation that forced ByteDance, its Chinese parent company, to consider selling off its U.S. operations or face a ban.
Trump said he and Xi had “made progress” on the agreement, though key details such as control over the algorithm and how user data would be protected are still being resolved.
The meeting in South Korea, set for the APEC Summit at the end of October, will mark their first in-person encounter since 2019. Trump also indicated that he plans to visit China in early 2026, with Xi returning to the U.S. “at an appropriate time.”
Both sides have remained cautious. China’s official statements describe the talks as “positive” but insist that further consultations between respective teams are needed to properly resolve the TikTok issue.
