U.S. and Chinese officials are set to continue trade discussions in Spain on Monday, coinciding with the approaching deadline for the Chinese-owned app TikTok to secure a buyer or face a potential ban in the U.S. The talks, led by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, represent ongoing efforts to address trade tensions between the two largest global economies.
Delegations from both nations last convened in Sweden in July, where they agreed to extend a tariffs truce for an additional 90 days. Recently, former President Donald Trump, who had initially advocated for a TikTok ban during his first term, has shifted his position on the app and has already postponed the ban three times.
In remarks to reporters on Sunday, Trump stated, “We may let [TikTok] die. Or we may… I don’t know. It depends. Up to China, it doesn’t matter too much.” This comment coincides with increasing speculation that the Wednesday deadline for TikTok may be extended for a fourth time. Last month, Trump indicated a willingness to keep extending the deadline until a buyer is found, while labeling concerns regarding national security and privacy associated with TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, as “highly overrated.”
The situation surrounding TikTok remains significant, as the app is one of the most popular social media platforms globally, boasting approximately 170 million users in the United States. The White House and TikTok have been approached for comments regarding the ongoing negotiations and the status of the deadline.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj9zedgkm21o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss