China has dismissed an offer from U.S. President Donald Trump to reduce tariffs in exchange for Beijing’s approval of a deal involving the sale of TikTok. The popular video-sharing platform, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, faces an uncertain future in the United States due to national security concerns.
Trump revealed that the U.S. is in discussions with four groups interested in acquiring TikTok, as a law requiring the app to divest from ByteDance or face a ban took effect earlier this year. The law, enacted over fears that Beijing could use TikTok to spy on Americans or influence public opinion, was delayed by Trump shortly after his inauguration. However, the delay is set to expire on April 5.
Speaking at the White House, Trump suggested that a reduction in tariffs could facilitate the deal. “We’re going to have a form of a deal,” he said, adding that he might extend the deadline if necessary. “China is going to have to play a role in that, possibly in the form of an approval.”
Beijing swiftly rebuffed the proposal, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun reiterating China’s consistent stance against additional tariffs and its position on TikTok.
Meanwhile, TikTok’s future remains uncertain as potential buyers, including Microsoft, Oracle, and AI startup Perplexity, express interest. Perplexity has proposed integrating its AI-powered search capabilities with TikTok’s video library to create a groundbreaking search experience. Other contenders include “The People’s Bid for TikTok,” spearheaded by real estate tycoon Frank McCourt, and a group featuring internet personality MrBeast.
As the April 5 deadline approaches, the fate of TikTok in the U.S. hangs in the balance, with Trump’s tariff concessions failing to sway Beijing and the app’s ownership still unresolved.
