U.S. President Donald Trump has stated he would consider lowering tariffs on China if the Chinese government approves the sale of TikTok’s U.S. operations.
ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, faces a deadline of April 5 to find a non-Chinese buyer for the app, or risk a ban in the U.S. on national security grounds. This deadline stems from a 2024 law driven by concerns that TikTok’s ties to ByteDance could allow the Chinese government to use the app for influence operations and data collection on Americans.
In a press conference on Wednesday, Trump emphasized that China “will have to play a role” in approving the divestiture of TikTok’s U.S. operations. He also mentioned he might extend the deadline if an agreement isn’t reached, adding, “Maybe I’ll give them a little reduction in tariffs or something to get it done,” though he stressed that tariffs are ultimately more important than TikTok.
The president’s comments come as ByteDance faces the April 5 deadline. Earlier this month, Vice President JD Vance expressed hope that a deal to keep TikTok in the U.S. would be finalized before the deadline, though he acknowledged that certain issues could delay the agreement.
China’s commerce ministry reiterated its stance on tariffs, expressing a willingness to engage with Washington on mutually respectful and beneficial terms.