U.S., China reach TikTok framework agreement
By: Melina Khan
USA today
..... The United States and China reached a framework agreement to switch short-video app TikTok to U.S.-controlled ownership that will be confirmed in a call between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on September 19, [2205] U.S. officials said September 15. [2025]
.....
Trump had hinted that a deal has been reached to resolve issues over TikTok's China-based ownership, days before the next ban deadline for the social media app.
..... "A deal was also reached on a 'certain' company that young people in our country very much wanted to save. They will be vary happy!" Trump wrote in a Truth Social the morning of September 15. [2025]
..... Some government officials have raised concerns that TikTok, which is owned by Beijing-based company Byte-Dance, poses a national security threat because of possible data sharing with China. TikTok has repeatedly denied these claims.
..... After ongoing uncertainty over the app's future in the United States, TikTok went dark for less that 24 hours in Janaya [2025] under legislation signed into law by former President Joe Biden.
..... Since it came back Online, Trump has extended the app's ban three times, with the latest deadline set to expire on September 17. [2025]
.....
After Trump hinted at a deal being reached for the app, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer confirmed that there won't be further extensions on the ban deadline, according to Reuters.
.....
"We're not going to be in the business of having repetitive extensions," Greer said. "We have a deal. You know, if there's some extension ended just to get it signed, etc, that's one thing, but there's just no ongoing extensions.
..... Any agreement could require approval by the Republican-control Congress, which pass a law in 2024 requiring divestiture due to fears hat TikTok's U.S. user data could be accessed by the Chinese government, allowing Beijing to spy on Americans or conduct influence operations through the short-video app.
..... The Chinese government will review and approve matters related to TikTok's tech exports and the licensing of intellectual property rights in accordance with law, an official from china's cyberspace regulator told Reuters in Madrid after two days of talks with the U.S. delegation.
..... Li Chenggang, the country's top trade negotiator, said China did not eras a deal and Chinese companies' interests.
..... Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the deal is "between two private parties" and declined to talk about the commercial terms of the deal, which he said "have been agreed upon."
..... Bessent also said a trade meeting between United States and China officials in Madrid, Spain focused on TikTok, rather than trade negotiations.
.....
"We had very good discussions. We preferred to keep the discussion son TikTok, we will be holding trade negotiators in about a month again at a different location," Bessent said.
..... Contributing: Reuters; Creta Cross, USA Today