US President Donald Trump is considering easing tariffs on China in exchange for a deal with TikTok’s Chinese parent company ByteDance to sell the social media app used by 170 million Americans.
Donald Trump has said he would be willing to reduce tariffs on China to get a deal done with TikTok‘s Chinese parent company ByteDance to sell the social media app used by 170 million Americans.
The Role of China in Any Agreement
Trump acknowledged the role China would play in any agreement, stating that ‘China is going to have to play a role in that, possibly in the form of an approval, maybe, and I think they’ll do that.’ He also mentioned that he might give them a ‘little reduction in tariffs or something’ to get the deal done.
TikTok’s Sale a Priority for the Administration
The sale of TikTok’s ownership is a priority for Trump’s administration, with concerns in Washington that TikTok’s ownership by ByteDance makes it beholden to the Chinese government and could be used to conduct influence operations against the US and collect data on Americans.
Background on the Deal Talks
ByteDance has a 5 April deadline to find a non-Chinese buyer for TikTok or face a US ban on national security grounds. The move is the result of concerns in Washington that TikTok’s ownership by ByteDance makes it beholden to the Chinese government and could be used to conduct influence operations against the US and collect data on Americans.
Previous Developments
In February, Trump added levies totaling 20% to existing tariffs on all imports from China. He has used tariffs as a bargaining chip in the TikTok negotiations in the past. On 20 January, his first day in office, he warned that he could impose tariffs on China if Beijing failed to approve a US deal with TikTok.
Investment Bank Role for the White House
The White House has been involved in an unprecedented level of talks among investors, playing the role of investment bank. Reuters reported last week that White House-led talks among investors are coalescing around a plan for the biggest non-Chinese backers of ByteDance to increase their stakes and acquire the video app’s US operations.
Background on the Ban
The future of the app used by nearly half of all Americans has been up in the air since a law – passed with overwhelming bipartisan support – required ByteDance to divest TikTok by 19 January. The app briefly went dark in January after the US supreme court upheld the ban, but flickered back to life days later once Trump took office.
The TikTok ban refers to the prohibition of the social media app in various countries due to security and data privacy concerns.
In 2020, India banned TikTok along with 58 other Chinese apps, citing national security risks.
The US government has also considered banning TikTok over concerns about 'data collection' and potential ties to the Chinese government.
However, some argue that the ban may infringe on free speech rights and stifle cultural exchange.
Free Speech Concerns
Free speech advocates have argued that the ban unlawfully threatens to restrict Americans from accessing foreign media in violation of the first amendment of the US constitution.
Free speech concerns have been a longstanding issue in many countries, with debates surrounding the balance between individual rights and national security.
The First Amendment to the US Constitution protects freedom of speech, but courts have consistently narrowed its scope through decisions like Brandenburg v. Ohio (1969).
In 2017, the US Supreme Court ruled that government employees can be fired for social media posts deemed unprofessional.
Globally, concerns about hate speech and online harassment continue to grow, with many countries implementing laws to regulate online content.
- theguardian.com | Trump floats easing tariffs on China in return for TikTok deal
