Trump may reduce tariffs on China to fast-track TikTok deal
What's the story
US President Donald Trump has indicated the possibility of reducing tariffs on China, in an effort to speed up ByteDance's sale of TikTok's US business. Speaking at a press conference recently, Trump said, "Maybe I'll give them a little reduction in tariffs or something to get it done." This is part of his broader strategy to secure a deal before TikTok's looming ban deadline in the US.
Deadline extension
Tariff reduction to expedite TikTok deal
Trump has also hinted that he might extend deadline for TikTok. "We're going to have a form of a deal, but if it's not finished, it's not a big deal. We'll just extend it." This comes as ByteDance is under pressure to find a non-Chinese buyer for TikTok by April 5 or risk a ban in the US over national security issues. Despite concerns, Trump says he has developed "a warm spot for TikTok that I didn't have originally."
Response
TikTok's response and potential buyers
Thanking Trump for the extension, TikTok said they were grateful for the clarity and assurance provided by the President. The company said, "We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans." Potential buyers include AI company Perplexity, Microsoft, Oracle, and a group led by Internet content creator MrBeast.