The Trump administration is expected to delay enforcement of a law requiring Chinese tech firm ByteDance to sell or shut down its U.S. operations of TikTok, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Sunday days ahead of a 17 September deadline.
If confirmed, the move would mark the fourth such reprieve granted by U.S. President Donald Trump since taking office in January.
ByteDance was initially given until January 2025 to comply with legislation passed by Congress, citing national security concerns over potential Chinese surveillance or censorship via the app.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Trump gave an ambiguous response when asked about TikTok's future.
“I may or may not, we're negotiating TikTok right now. We may let it die, or we may, I don't know, it depends, up to China,” he said. “It doesn't matter too much. I'd like to do it for the kids.”
The White House has not commented on the expected extension, but the delay reflects the administration's hesitance to shut down an app reportedly used by 170 million Americans.
A previous attempt to spin off TikTok’s U.S. business into a company controlled by U.S. investors stalled in the spring, after Beijing signalled it would block any deal involving TikTok’s proprietary algorithm.
Progress on negotiations has since been slow.
On Sunday, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer held trade talks in Madrid, Spain with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and top negotiator Li Chenggang.
TikTok was formally included on the agenda for the first time, the source said, though a deal is not expected before the 17 September deadline.
The latest round of negotiations - the fourth in four months - took place at the baroque Palacio de Santa Cruz that houses Spain's foreign ministry and concluded its first day on Sunday after about six hours with no indication of a breakthrough.
China's embassy in Madrid notified reporters of a potential concluding news conference on Monday afternoon, indicating that the talks could wrap up quickly. Some previous discussions over more complicated issues, such as talks in London over rare earths shipments, extended to a third day.
U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have arrived in Moscow for peace talks on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, two people familiar wi...
An Iranian tanker was hit by U.S. forces on Saturday near Iran's key oil export hub, Kharg Island, in the Gulf...
Spanish authorities are preparing a new site in Ceuta to accommodate hundreds of migrants who remain on the str...
U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will visit Russia then Ukraine over the weekend, Russian state news agency TASS has reported, citing an unnamed source. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also said American envoys will visit the capitals of both countries.
U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have arrived in Moscow for peace talks on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, two people familiar with the matter said. They were met by Russian Presidential Envoy Kirill Dmitriev.
U.S. efforts to squeeze Iran’s economy through an oil blockade and sanctions are becoming increasingly difficult for Tehran to withstand, according to three senior Iranian sources. Washington is escalating pressure in hopes of securing concessions in future negotiations.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 4th of September, covering the latest developments.
An Iranian tanker was hit by U.S. forces on Saturday near Iran's key oil export hub, Kharg Island, in the Gulf, the semi-official Iranian news agency Tasnim reported.
A Chinese national was pulled alive from a tunnel in Nepal on Saturday, authorities said, 10 days after a wall of ice, rock and mud tore through a Himalayan valley, killing more than 1,300 people and leaving more than 5,600 missing.
U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have arrived in Moscow for peace talks on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, two people familiar with the matter said. They were met by Russian Presidential Envoy Kirill Dmitriev.
Spanish authorities are preparing a new site in Ceuta to accommodate hundreds of migrants who remain on the streets following large-scale arrivals in July, local media reported Saturday.
At least two people were killed and dozens injured on Friday after an explosion at a military barracks in the Bolivian municipality of Viacha, about 30 km (20 miles) from La Paz, Defence Minister Ernesto Justiniano said.
The resolution, sponsored by African countries and led by Togo, passed by 164 votes to one, with six abstentions. The United States was the only country to vote against it.
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