US President Donald Trump said he could lower Chinese tariffs to facilitate a deal for ByteDance to sell its US unit of TikTok, noting that China would have to play a role in approving the sale, CNBC reported.
Trump has suggested that tariff reductions could be an incentive for a deal, but he has stressed that tariff revenue is more important than TikTok. Under national security law, ByteDance is required to sell TikTok’s American segment or face a de facto ban in the US. Despite this, Trump signed an executive order in January extending the deadline for a deal to April 5. He has also said he wants the US to retain 50% ownership of TikTok through a joint venture.
At a press conference on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, Trump suggested that if the agreement could not be concluded by that deadline, it could be extended again.
Vice President J.D. Vance previously told NBC News that he was confident a deal could be reached by April. He expects an agreement to be reached that takes into account US national interests and creates a separate American unit for TikTok.