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Trump’s TikTok Stance Influenced China Trade Deal, Says Treasury Secretary
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Scott Bessent stated that President Donald Trump‘s firm stance on TikTok influenced trade negotiations with China.
by [Invented Reporter] | MADRID – 2025/09/16 11:50:21
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer hold a press conference,following a meeting with Chinese vice Premier He Lifeng,on the day of U.S.-China talks on trade, economic and national security issues, in Madrid, Spain, September 15, 2025.
louiza Vradi | Reuters
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Tuesday that President Donald Trump was willing to let Tiktok go dark, and it was “what turned the tide” in the deal framework with China.
“President Trump made it clear that he would have been willing to let Tiktok go dark, that we were not going to give up national security in favor of the deal,” Bessent told CNBC’s “Squawk Box.”
TikTok parent company ByteDance is still looking at a Sept. 17 deadline to divest the app’s U.S. operations or potentially be shut down in the country.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Monday that more time may be needed for the deal to be finalized and signed, although the Trump administration hasn’t yet formally extended the deadline.
Bessent said Tuesday that the commercial terms of the deal between ByteDance and the new investors had been done “in essence” since March or April.
He added that the Chinese put the deal on hold after Trump’s tariff announcement on April 2.
Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to speak Friday to finalize the deal.
The Significance of TikTok in US-China Trade Relations
“President Trump made it clear that he would have been willing to let Tiktok go dark…we were not going to give up national security.”
The ongoing discussions surrounding TikTok highlight the complex intersection of technology, national security, and international trade. The potential ban of a widely used social media platform underscores the importance of data security and the lengths to which governments are willing to go to protect their interests.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why is TikTok considered a national security threat?
- Concerns exist that the Chinese government could access user data collected by TikTok, potentially compromising the privacy and security of U.S. citizens.
- What is ByteDance’s role in the TikTok controversy?
- ByteDance, as the parent company of TikTok, is responsible for the app’s data collection and security practices, making it a central figure in the ongoing debate.
- What are the potential outcomes for TikTok in the United states?
- Possible outcomes include a complete ban, a forced sale to a U.S. company, or the implementation of stricter data security measures.
