Trump and Xi make progress on TikTok deal, plan to meet in South Korea
Trump and Xi make progress on TikTok deal, plan to meet in South Korea
Trump and Xi have inched closer to a deal over TikTok, which has been hanging in limbo for months. According to both sides, talks are moving in the right direction, and the two leaders now plan to meet face to face in South Korea at the end of October during the APEC summit.
The recent phone call between Trump and Xi was their first in a while, and TikTok was just one item on the agenda. They also touched on trade, fentanyl, and Ukraine. But the TikTok piece is what grabbed headlines, since the app’s fate in the U.S. has been uncertain ever since Washington started pressing ByteDance to divest and face a ban.
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From what’s been reported, a “framework” for a deal is already on the table. That likely means TikTok’s US operations would continue, but with new ownership and oversight that Washington finds acceptable. Exactly how much ByteDance would keep, who the American investors would be, and how the app’s algorithm is handled are still open questions.
The South Korea meeting at the end of October could be a moment to push this across the finish line. It’s not clear if they’ll sign anything then or just show progress, but both sides seem interested in at least signaling cooperation.
That said, the obstacles are real. US lawmakers remain skeptical and don’t want a watered-down deal that leaves ByteDance with too much influence. Beijing, meanwhile, doesn’t want to look like it’s caving under U.S. pressure. And all of this is happening against the backdrop of bigger trade disputes and geopolitical tensions.
Trump and Xi make progress on TikTok deal, plan to meet in South Korea
The stakes are high for ordinary users too. TikTok is wildly popular in the U.S., especially with younger people. A shutdown would create a big cultural and political ripple.
So for now, it looks like progress but not a done deal. The next few weeks leading up to the APEC summit will be key to seeing whether this is just diplomatic theater or a genuine breakthrough.
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