2 min read
A month after President Donald Trump’s high-profile signing ceremony announcing the “successful rescue” of TikTok in the United States, the celebrated deal appears far from completion.
Despite repeated assurances from U.S. officials that a sale agreement was imminent, the Chinese government has yet to approve any proposed restructuring, a necessary step before any transaction can proceed.
Earlier this week, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he held “positive discussions” with Chinese officials, expecting approval to follow Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday. However, while both leaders reportedly made progress on trade-related issues, TikTok’s status remains unchanged.
Bessent told reporters after the meeting, “We finalized the TikTok agreement in terms of getting Chinese approval, and I would expect that would go forward in the coming weeks and months.”
Yet, Chinese state media offered a more cautious tone, stating only that “China will properly resolve issues related to TikTok with the U.S. side.” China Daily added that both nations are working “under the principles of equality, respect, and mutual benefit,” while noting that the discussions’ outcomes “did not come easily.”
The delay appears tied to broader trade disputes. The United States continues to impose tariffs on Chinese imports as part of Trump’s “America First” economic agenda, which Beijing has criticized as protectionist. Chinese officials have suggested that Washington’s stance on TikTok is being used as leverage in these larger negotiations.
Reports indicate that China may be waiting for the U.S. to ease tariffs before approving TikTok’s sale. Some analysts even speculate that Beijing could seek concessions beyond trade, such as diplomatic support on geopolitical issues like Taiwan, as part of a wider strategic bargain.
For now, TikTok remains caught between trade diplomacy and political showmanship. What was once a viral video app is now a pawn in one of the world’s most complex economic standoffs, with its future hinging less on user engagement and more on the shifting calculus of U.S.–China relations.
