United States President Donald Trump stated on Wednesday that he would be willing to lower tariffs on China as part of efforts to secure a deal for TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell the popular short-video app. The platform is currently used by 170 million Americans.
ByteDance is facing an April 5 deadline to sell TikTok to a non-Chinese buyer or risk a ban in the United States due to national security concerns. The potential ban stems from a 2024 law enacted over fears in Washington that ByteDance’s ownership could enable the Chinese government to collect data on American users or influence them.
Trump also indicated that he was open to extending the deadline if a deal had not been finalised, acknowledging that China’s approval would be a crucial factor in the process.
“Maybe I’ll give them a little reduction in tariffs or something to get it done,” Trump told reporters.
TikTok has not yet commented on the president’s remarks.
Trump’s statement highlights the significance his administration places on resolving TikTok’s ownership issue, with tariffs being considered as a bargaining chip in negotiations with Beijing.
Earlier this year, in February and again this month, Trump raised tariffs on all Chinese imports by a total of 20%. However, any deal involving TikTok’s sale—potentially worth tens of billions of dollars—would require China’s approval, making negotiations more complex.
This is not the first time Trump has used tariffs as leverage in discussions about TikTok. On January 20, the day he assumed office, he warned that he could impose tariffs on China if Beijing refused to approve a US-based deal for the platform.
Vice President JD Vance has expressed optimism about reaching a general agreement on TikTok’s ownership by the April 5 deadline.
Meanwhile, Reuters reported last week that White House-led discussions among investors were focused on a plan for ByteDance’s largest non-Chinese stakeholders to increase their ownership and take control of TikTok’s US operations, according to two sources familiar with the talks.