Trump Suggests China Could Receive Tariff Relief in Exchange for TikTok Approval

President Donald Trump recently indicated that China could receive tariff relief if it approves the sale of TikTok, the popular short video app owned by ByteDance. Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump suggested that the ongoing TikTok negotiations could serve as an example of how tariffs might be leveraged to secure favorable deals with other countries. He explained that China could approve the TikTok deal in exchange for the U.S. scaling back its tariffs on Chinese imports.

Trump emphasized that the U.S. administration is “very close” to finalizing a deal involving TikTok, with multiple investors already involved. The company is under pressure to find a non-Chinese buyer by April 5, or face a potential ban in the United States due to national security concerns. TikTok’s deadline to complete the sale of its U.S. operations is looming, intensifying the urgency of the negotiations.

The U.S. president also noted that tariffs could play a role in such discussions, saying that China may propose tariff reductions in return for agreeing to a TikTok sale. His comments came shortly after he announced a new baseline 10% tariff on all imports to the United States, as well as higher duties on certain major trading partners, including China.

TikTok did not immediately comment on Trump’s remarks. As of now, China faces a steep 54% tariff on goods imported into the U.S., adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing trade relations between the two nations.

Source: Reuters