ByteDance ties TikTok deal to Chinese law after Trump grants new 75-day extension.
US President Donald Trump is trying to pressure the sale of the app to an American company.
247 - Chinese company ByteDance stated on Saturday that any agreement related to TikTok's operation in the United States will depend on the approval of Chinese authorities. The statement was published on its official WeChat account after US President Donald Trump announced a new 75-day extension to the deadline for TikTok to be sold or banned in the country. The news was originally reported by the Chinese state news agency. Xinhua and by newspaper Global Times.
ByteDance confirmed that it has not yet reached any agreement with the US government and that negotiations are ongoing. "We have been holding discussions with the US government regarding a possible solution for TikTok in the United States. There is no agreement yet. Important issues still need to be resolved. Any agreement will be subject to approval under Chinese law," the company stated.
President Trump, who assumed his second term on January 20, 2025, posted on social media on Friday (4) that he would grant TikTok another 75 days extension, extending the original deadline set by the so-called “sell or ban”. According to Trump, “significant progress” has been made, but “more work is needed” to reach a definitive agreement.
The new extension represents the Trump administration's second attempt to avoid a complete ban on the app, which is widely popular among Americans—it has more than 170 million users in the United States. Shortly after taking office, Trump signed an executive order postponing the ban on the platform until April 5, aiming to allow more time to assess the situation.
In April 2024, while Joe Biden was still in office, the US Congress approved and the then-president signed legislation requiring the sale of TikTok to a non-Chinese company within 270 days. Otherwise, the platform would be banned from the country starting January 19, 2025, the day before the presidential inauguration.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun has repeatedly spoken out on the issue. On January 21, reacting to Trump's statements that half of TikTok should be transferred to an American company or 100% tariffs would be imposed on China, Guo criticized Washington's stance. "The United States should listen sensibly and provide an open, fair, and non-discriminatory business environment for all market entities, regardless of their origin," he stated.
Guo also defended the positive role TikTok has played in the country. “The platform has operated in the United States for years and is very popular among local users. It has contributed to employment and consumption in the country,” he said. For the Chinese government, decisions such as the operation or acquisition of companies should be governed by market principles and not by political impositions. “If Chinese companies are involved, Chinese laws and regulations must be respected,” he stressed.
In another statement, made on March 27, Guo reiterated the Chinese government's position regarding a possible tariff reduction as a bargaining chip to reach an agreement on TikTok. "China has already made its position clear regarding TikTok and is firmly opposed to the imposition of additional tariffs. Our stance is consistent and clear," he concluded.
The geopolitical battle surrounding TikTok highlights the growing tension between the United States and China, reflecting a broader dispute over technological and economic influence. The impasse also raises questions about digital sovereignty and the limits of state intervention in globalized business environments.
