In a press conference on Wednesday, President Donald Trump announced that he may reduce tariffs on China to help finalize a deal involving ByteDance, the Chinese owner of TikTok, selling its U.S. operations. The move is aimed at addressing national security concerns tied to the popular social media platform while fostering a resolution acceptable to all parties.
“Maybe I’ll give them a little reduction in tariffs or something to get it done,” Trump said during the briefing. He emphasized the importance of the tariffs, stating, “TikTok is big, but every point in tariffs is worth more than TikTok.”
The deal has been a high-stakes issue since a national security law required ByteDance to divest TikTok’s U.S. operations or face an effective ban in the country. Although the original deadline for the divestiture passed in January, Trump signed an executive order extending the deadline to April 5, 2025.
China’s Role in the Deal
President Trump highlighted China’s involvement, stating that the country “is going to have to play a role” in approving the divestiture. A reduction in tariffs could serve as a bargaining tool to encourage cooperation from Beijing.
Negotiations have been ongoing, and Trump indicated that he is open to extending the April deadline again if necessary. “We’re going to have a form of a deal, but if it’s not finished, it’s not a big deal,” he said. “We’ll just extend it.”
National Security Concerns
The U.S. government has expressed concerns about TikTok’s data practices and potential links to the Chinese government. To address these concerns, Trump has previously stated that he wants the U.S. to maintain a 50% ownership position in TikTok through a joint venture.
Vice President JD Vance also weighed in earlier this month, expressing confidence that a resolution would be reached by the April deadline. “There will almost certainly be a high-level agreement that I think satisfies our national security concerns and allows there to be a distinct American TikTok enterprise,” Vance told NBC News.
Looking Ahead
While the outcome of the TikTok negotiations remains uncertain, it is clear that the Trump administration is willing to use tariff reductions as a tool to expedite a resolution. The potential deal could serve as a significant milestone in balancing national security with economic interests.
As the deadline approaches, all eyes remain on whether the administration can secure an agreement that addresses the concerns of the U.S. government while maintaining TikTok’s presence in the country.
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