In an attempt to sustain TikTok in the US, President Donald Trump has proposed to alleviate U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports in exchange for China’s approval of the sale of TikTok.
The proposal, which was announced on Thursday, suggests that Trump is willing to consider a deal where China agrees to approve the sale of TikTok, owned by ByteDance, in exchange for relief from U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports.
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This development comes after Trump imposed “reciprocal” tariffs on dozens of nations, including a 34% levy on imports from China.
The tariffs have been a point of contention between the U.S. and China, with many arguing that they undermine free trade principles. However, Trump has maintained that the tariffs give the U.S. “great power to negotiate”.
READ ALSO: China imposes additional 34% tariffs on all US goods amid trade war
The situation is urgent, with TikTok facing an April 5 deadline to find a non-Chinese buyer or risk being banned in the U.S. Trump’s administration has been working to reach a deal that would allow TikTok to continue operating in the U.S., with multiple investors involved.
The TikTok deadline of April 5, 2025, stems from a 2024 U.S. law citing national security concerns over ByteDance’s ownership, escalating tensions in U.S.-China relations.
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