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In a significant move for the popular social media platform TikTok, President Donald Trump signed an executive order on January 21, 2025, postponing a legal prohibition on the app for 75 days. This decision comes as a relief to the approximately 170 million TikTok users in the United States who had faced a potential ban due to national security concerns associated with its Chinese parent company, ByteDance.
The executive order allows TikTok to continue operations while the Trump administration seeks to negotiate a solution that could involve a joint venture with American investors. Trump indicated that he is considering requiring ByteDance to relinquish a 50% ownership stake in the company to avoid an outright ban.
China’s response to this development has been less than favorable. The Chinese Foreign Ministry urged the United States to respect international business practices and allow companies to operate without undue interference.
Trump’s executive order also hints at potential tariffs as a leverage point in negotiations with China. He suggested that if an agreement favorable to the U.S. is not reached, tariffs could be imposed as high as 100% on Chinese goods.
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and a known ally of Trump, also weighed in on TikTok’s future during comments made on X (formerly Twitter). Musk highlighted the “need for change” regarding the disparity between American platforms operating in China and TikTok’s access in the U.S.
As negotiations unfold, the future of TikTok remains uncertain, with both American lawmakers and Chinese officials closely monitoring developments.
Sources:
[1] https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/21/china/trump-tiktok-china-intl-hnk/index.html
[2] https://www.npr.org/2025/01/20/nx-s1-5268701/trump-executive-order-tiktok-ban
[3] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd0j24rj4ryo
[4] https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/WC193
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[7] https://www.theverge.com/2025/1/20/24348213/trump-tiktok-ban-executive-order-sale-delay-china
[8] https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/ACCC+commissioned+report+-+The+impact+of+digital+platforms+on+news+and+journalistic+content,+Centre+for+Media+Transition+(2).pdf
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[11] https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/on-tiktok-ban-china-urges-us-to-listen-to-rational-voices/3458346