President Trump mentioned Chinese language President Xi Jinping accepted a deal Friday that may enable TikTok to stay working within the U.S., although the specifics of the association stay unclear.
In a social media publish, Trump praised Xi for a “productive call” spanning a number of matters, together with Xi’s approval of a pending deal to maintain the favored Chinese language-owned video app lively on U.S. gadgets and networks.
“The call was a very good one, we will be speaking again by phone, appreciate the TikTok approval, and both look forward to meeting at APEC!” Trump wrote on Reality Social.
Trump didn’t launch particulars of the deal, and it was not instantly clear what additional steps had been essential to enact it in each the U.S. and China.
The Chinese language authorities additionally raised questions on how far alongside negotiations really had been in its description of the Trump-Xi name.
The Chinese language authorities mentioned Trump agreed to “work with China on the economy and trade, and support their teams in reaching a proper deal on TikTok through consultation” however not did tackle whether or not Xi accepted any phrases on the decision.
“China’s position on the TikTok issue is clear,” the federal government mentioned, including that officers “would be happy to see productive commercial negotiations” that adjust to China’s legal guidelines “and takes into account the interests of both sides.”
“The U.S. side needs to provide an open, fair and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese investors,” the assertion continued.
The Chinese language authorities mentioned Trump agreed to “work with China on the economy and trade, and support their teams in reaching a proper deal on TikTok through consultation.”
The president had hinted at a deal Monday, shortly earlier than Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent introduced that the U.S. had reached a “framework” for a TikTok deal following commerce talks with China.
The app’s future has remained an open query for months, as Trump has repeatedly delayed enforcement of a regulation requiring TikTok’s China-based father or mother firm to divest from the app or face a U.S. ban.
As the newest extension was set to run out Wednesday, Trump signed an government order as soon as once more pushing again enforcement of the divest-or-ban regulation till Dec. 16.
Whereas particular particulars have but to be introduced, a number of retailers have reported that Oracle, Silver Lake and Andreessen Horowitz are among the many traders poised to personal a brand new U.S. entity that may function TikTok.
Chinese language officers have additionally advised the deal would come with licensing the app’s algorithm. This facet of the reported deal has raised issues for a minimum of one key Republican
Rep. John Moolenaar (Mich.), chair of the Home Choose Committee on the Chinese language Communist Celebration, argued Wednesday that Congress enacted the TikTok ban regulation on an “overwhelming bipartisan basis” due to nationwide safety issues about China’s means to gather American person information and manipulate their feeds.
Lawmakers “set clear legal safeguards for a deal,” he famous, which barred cooperation with ByteDance on TikTok’s algorithm or an ongoing operational relationship between the app and its father or mother firm.
Former President Biden signed the divest-or-ban regulation final yr amid bipartisan backlash to the Chinese language authorities and issues in regards to the rising recognition of TikTok.
Whereas Trump had known as for banning TikTok from the U.S. throughout his first presidential time period, he flipped on the difficulty forward of his second time period. Trump has since downplayed nationwide safety issues about TikTok and famous its recognition with youthful People.
TikTok additionally performed a serious position within the Trump marketing campaign’s success in swaying hundreds of college-aged voters to help his reelection bid, denting help for the Democratic ticket from a sometimes dependable supply.
Up to date at 12:07 p.m. EDT
