USA
TikTok ‘Framework’ Deal with China, Trump and Xi to Finalize Friday: The U.S. and China have reached a framework agreement over TikTok. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced on Monday during the U.S.-China talks in Madrid. The deal could reshape ownership of the popular social media app, long caught in the middle of geopolitical tensions.
Bessent clarified, “It’s between two private parties, but the commercial terms have been agreed upon.” He emphasized that the framework sets the stage for U.S.-controlled ownership of TikTok’s operations.
Meanwhile, both President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to finalize the terms in a direct conversation scheduled for Friday. In a Truth Social post, Trump hinted at the deal, saying it concerned a company “young people in our Country very much wanted to save.”
Deadline Pressure Intensifies
The development comes as TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, faces a looming September 17 deadline to divest its U.S. operations or risk a full shutdown in the country. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the deadline might be pushed back slightly to finalize the deal but warned against ongoing delays.
Congress had previously passed legislation preventing app stores like Apple and Google from distributing TikTok in the U.S., classifying it as a “foreign adversary-controlled application.”
Trump’s Role in Extending TikTok’s Lifeline
Trump initially postponed the shutdown in January through an executive order, granting ByteDance 75 additional days to secure a deal. Further extensions followed in April and June. This new framework could finally mark a turning point in TikTok’s uncertain U.S. future.
If finalized, the agreement will not only preserve TikTok’s presence in the U.S. but could also reshape its governance in line with American security and regulatory concerns.
The outcome of Friday’s discussions between Trump and Xi will determine whether TikTok remains accessible to millions of American users or faces new restrictions.
