President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to speak for the first time in three months, with a potential TikTok agreement topping the agenda. The goal: keep the app operational in the US while defusing broader trade tensions.
Congress has mandated TikTok’s shutdown by January 2025 unless its US assets are sold by Chinese parent ByteDance. Trump has delayed enforcement, citing political fallout and TikTok’s influence on youth voters:
“I like TikTok; it helped get me elected,” he said during a press conference.
Proposed Deal Structure:
The deal would transfer TikTok’s US assets to American ownership, but ByteDance’s algorithm would still be used—a sticking point for lawmakers concerned about data privacy and influence operations.
Trade and Tech Flashpoints:
The call may also pave the way for a summit at the APEC meeting in South Korea (Oct 30–Nov 1). Key issues include:
- Semiconductor competition
- Rare-earth exports
- Fentanyl-related chemical controls
- Tariff hikes on Chinese goods (some reaching triple-digit rates)
Trump’s administration is balancing national security concerns with political optics and economic interests. China, meanwhile, is leveraging TikTok as a “carrot” amid ongoing tech restrictions and trade disputes.
(source The New York Times)
—Agencies
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