China Pushes Back: TikTok Sale Stalls After U.S. Tariffs Spark Tension

TikTok’s fate in the United States has hit another roadblock, and this time, it’s coming directly from Beijing. After Trump imposed sweeping new tariffs on China and other countries earlier this week, the Chinese government is signaling it won’t approve a deal to sell TikTok’s U.S. operations without first addressing broader trade issues.

The mounting tension has forced Trump to sign an executive order extending the deadline for TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to find a non-Chinese buyer by another 75 days. Originally set to expire on April 5, the deadline was part of a law passed in 2024 requiring the divestment of TikTok due to national security concerns.

While Trump had initially been prepared to finalize a deal that would create a new, U.S.-owned TikTok entity; with ByteDance holding a small minority stake, Chinese officials reportedly balked once the new tariffs were announced. Sources familiar with the talks said China made it clear it would not green-light the sale until trade and tariff issues were addressed in a separate negotiation.

The delay is a significant development in an already complex international tech standoff. For months, U.S. officials believed they were close to securing a framework that would satisfy national security requirements while allowing TikTok to keep operating domestically. But the new tariffs shifted China’s stance almost overnight.

A ByteDance spokesperson confirmed that discussions with the U.S. government are ongoing but added that “key matters still need to be resolved” and any agreement would be “subject to Chinese law.” In other words, China holds the final say.

ByteDance has not publicly confirmed whether it intends to sell the app at all, and Beijing’s latest move makes a swift resolution unlikely. Insiders say the Chinese government is increasingly concerned about setting a precedent that could force other tech firms into similar situations.