US President Donald Trump has indicated he may consider reducing tariffs on Chinese goods to facilitate the sale of short-video platform TikTok by its parent company, ByteDance.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Trump mentioned the possibility of extending the April 5 deadline for securing a non-Chinese buyer for the app.
This deadline was initially set after he postponed the implementation of a law passed under the Biden administration in 2024, which mandated TikTok’s sale due to national security concerns.
“Regarding TikTok, China might need to be involved in some capacity, possibly through an approval process. I believe they will cooperate,” Trump stated. “Maybe I’ll offer them a slight reduction in tariffs to make it happen.”
The president expressed confidence that at least a preliminary agreement could be reached by the deadline.
Following Trump’s remarks, China’s foreign ministry reiterated its long-standing opposition to additional tariffs. A ministry spokesperson emphasised that Beijing’s stance on the matter has remained “consistent and clear”.
Trump’s comments came shortly after he introduced new tariffs of 25% on all imported cars and car parts, intensifying global trade tensions. The BBC has reached out to TikTok for a statement regarding the situation.
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A key obstacle in any TikTok sale remains obtaining approval from Chinese authorities.
Trump has previously used tariffs as a negotiation tool, and on his first day back in office on January 20, he warned of further duties on Chinese imports if Beijing refused to greenlight a deal.
TikTok, a widely popular app in the US with approximately 170 million users, remains a central issue in US-China relations.
Despite having previously pushed for a ban on the platform during his first term, Trump now actively uses the app and has amassed more than 15 million followers. He claims his campaign content has garnered billions of views.
Meanwhile, trade tensions between the US and China continue to escalate. This month, Washington increased tariffs on all Chinese imports to 20%, doubling the rates initially imposed by Trump on February 4.
In retaliation, China introduced its own levies on US goods, including a 10-15% tax on certain agricultural products.
On March 4, Beijing doubled its own 10% tariff to 20%, while also expanding restrictions on American firms in the aviation, defence, and technology sectors.
Amid the ongoing dispute, China has urged the US to re-engage in diplomatic discussions to resolve trade issues.
