Trump may give China reduction in tariffs to get TikTok deal done

President Donald Trump of the United States said on Wednesday he would be willing to reduce tariffs on China to get a deal done with TikTok's Chinese parent ByteDance to sell the short video app used by 170 million Americans.

It will be recalled that ByteDance has an April 5 deadline to find a non-Chinese buyer for TikTok or face a US ban on national security grounds that was supposed to have taken effect in January under a 2024 law.

The law is said to be the result of concern in Washington that TikTok's ownership by ByteDance makes it beholden to the Chinese government and that Beijing could use the app to conduct influence operations against the United States and collect data on Americans.

The president said he was willing to extend the April deadline if an agreement over the social media app was not reached.

He acknowledged the role China would play to get any deal done, including giving its approval.

“Maybe I'll give them a little reduction in tariffs or something to get it done,” Trump told reporters.

At the time of filing this report TikTok has not yet commented on the development.

Trump's comment suggesting the sale of TikTok is a priority for his administration and important enough to use tariffs as a bargaining chip with Beijing.

Trump, in February and earlier this month, added levies totaling 20% to existing tariffs on all imports from China.

Trump has used tariffs as a bargaining chip in the TikTok negotiations in the past.

His first day in office on January 20, Trump warned that he could impose tariffs on China if Beijing failed to approve a US deal with TikTok.

Vice President JD Vance has said he expects the general terms of an agreement that resolves the ownership of the social media platform to be reached by April 5.