Trump floats tariff reduction for China to secure TikTok deal
By lauraharris // 2025-04-03
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  • President Donald Trump suggested lowering tariffs on Chinese goods as part of negotiations to facilitate ByteDance's sale of TikTok, citing trade leverage.
  • The April 5 deadline for TikTok's forced sale may be extended again if negotiations progress, despite earlier urgency for a swift resolution.
  • Trump remained noncommittal on whether ByteDance could retain partial ownership, stating only that the final deal must be "best for the country."
  • The latest remarks contrast with earlier statements from Commerce Secretary Lutnick and VP Vance, who emphasized avoiding extensions and finalizing a deal by the deadline.
  • The discussion comes amid broader trade measures, including new tariffs on foreign vehicles and increased tariffs on Chinese imports.
U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that he would consider lowering tariffs on Chinese goods to facilitate a deal requiring ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese parent company, to sell the popular social media platform used by 170 million Americans. Speaking in a press conference at the Oval Office on March 26, Trump said that easing trade penalties could be part of the negotiations as the April 5 deadline for TikTok's forced sale approaches. "With respect to TikTok and China is going to have to play a role in that, possibly in the form of an approval, maybe, and I think they'll do that. Maybe I'll give them a little reduction in tariffs or something to get it done because every point in tariffs is worth more than TikTok," Trump said The remarks came shortly after Trump announced a new 25 percent tariff on foreign-made vehicle imports, part of his broader trade policies targeting multiple nations. Earlier this month, Trump raised tariffs on all Chinese imports to 20 percent, doubling the 10 percent rate imposed in February. (Related: China STRIKES BACK, imposes retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods as trade tensions escalate.) Initially, ByteDance was required to divest from TikTok by Jan. 19 or face a nationwide ban. However, Trump granted a 75-day extension, pushing the deadline to April 5. The president indicated he might extend the deadline again if negotiations progress. "We will have a form of a deal. TikTok is very popular," he said. "Very successful, very good. We're going to have a form of a deal. But if it's not finished it's not a big deal, we'll just extend it. I have the right to have the deal and to extend it if I want." he added. However, when pressed on whether ByteDance could retain partial ownership of TikTok's U.S. operations, Trump remained noncommittal, saying only, "We will find the one that's best for the country."

Trump willing to engage in deal-making to protect U.S. interests

Earlier this month, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated that the president aims to finalize a deal on TikTok's future ownership before the current deadline, emphasizing that the president "doesn't like to ask for extensions." At the time, Lutnick warned that there was no guarantee Trump would reach an agreement by April 5. Vice President JD Vance also echoed a similar statement. He expressed optimism that a deal to keep TikTok operating in the U.S. could be finalized by the early April deadline. According to NBC News, Vance did not disclose potential buyers but acknowledged that unresolved issues might delay a final agreement beyond the target date. "We'd like to get it done without the extension," Vance said at that time. "I think the question is, what is the equity ownership of the new joint venture? How do you do the contracts for all the investors, the customers, the service providers? … The deal itself will be very clear, but actually creating those thousands and thousands of pages of legal documents, that's the one thing that I worry could slip." This shift toward pursuing negotiations with China on TikTok's future ownership demonstrates his pragmatic leadership and commitment to securing the best possible outcome for American interests. Rather than resorting to abrupt bans or unilateral actions, his willingness to engage in deal-making reflects a strategic approach: one that prioritizes economic stability, technological innovation and fair terms for U.S. businesses and users. Head over to Trump.news for related news. Trump should put the tariffs on immediately, expert says. Watch this video.
This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

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Sources include: Reuters.com TheHill.com APNews.com Brighteon.com
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