Trump Says He May Lower China Tariffs If TikTok Deal Happens

On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he might consider reducing tariffs on China if Beijing approves a sale of TikTok's U.S. operations. Speaking with reporters in the Oval Office, Trump noted that the idea "sounds like something I’d do." This statement came just under two weeks before an April deadline, which requires TikTok’s China-based parent company, ByteDance, to sell its U.S. operations or face a ban. The future of the widely used video app has been uncertain since a law mandating ByteDance’s divestment went into effect on January 19. After assuming office, Trump signed an executive order granting TikTok a 75-day delay on enforcement, pushing the deadline to April 5. Trump also mentioned that the TikTok deal’s deadline could be extended if necessary. Previously, he suggested a deal where the U.S. would hold a 50% stake in a joint venture, but details about such an agreement have not been disclosed by the administration.