Trump Says China’s Objections Over Tariffs Blocked TikTok Sale Deal:

The new tariffs imposed by the US, as outlined during the Trump presidency, hindered China's ability to complete the TikTok operating deal. Trump stated that, "We had a deal pretty much for TikTok — not a deal but pretty close — and then China changed the deal because of tariffs,” while on Air Force One returning from Floria to DC.

In regard to tariffs, Trump stated, “If I gave a little cut in tariffs they would have approved that deal in 15 minutes, which shows the power of tariffs. I would love to give them that deal…but in the end, if you look at it, the power of tariffs is tremendous.” Trump claimed that some Chinese negotiators were more interested in the potential TikTok deal's economic value than the larger economic constraints of Trump’s tariffs.

A bipartisan law enacted in 2024 mandates that TikTok be sold to an American buyer and U.S. officials have been searching down the final traces of negotiation with ByteDance Ltd.

Trump pitched the idea to dismantle existing US trade deals. A group of American investors, including Oracle, Blackstone, and Andreessen Horowitz, allegedly were part of the bid towards change.

But that accord was not made public, and in Trump’s words, China’s concessions blocked an agreement. Earlier the Washington Post had reported how Trump’s attempts at increasing tariffs on China were, in fact, stalling the talks.

Trump’s order demands an additional one-thirty-four percent tariff on China’s trade, which would build onto the twenty percent he had already placed on the country earlier this year. In retaliation, China announced on Friday that they too would be implementing a thirty-four percent tariff on all US imports starting April 10. They also stated that they would be putting some restrictions on exporting certain rare earth materials.

Trump had earlier made claims that he would be open to negotiations on lowering tariffs, but only if China agreed to sell TikTok to the US.

ByteDance, under the new law, was bound to sell off TikTok’s Unit US by the nineteen’s of January. However, the company has refused to part with what is considered a highly profitable asset. Trump had suggested the sell-or-ban ultimatum be eased, and signed yet another extension of seventy-five days on Friday.