The Eye Of Media

By Isabelle Wilson-

President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping have confirmed they made significant progress on a new TikTok deal. The agreement aims to prevent a ban on the popular social media platform in the United States. Following a phone call on Friday, Trump announced the breakthrough in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social. He called the discussion “very productive.” This conversation marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing battle over the app’s future in the U.S. and a major development in U.S.-China relations.

Teenagers in front of a TikTok logo. Pic: Reuters

By Isabelle Wilson-

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The proposed agreement would create a new U.S.-owned entity to operate TikTok for its 170 million American users. This new company would be a spin-off from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. A new group of investors is expected to take a majority stake. The plan would also require all U.S. user data to be processed on servers in the United States, as per a framework deal with Oracle. The Chinese government, through state media, said it welcomed businesses to “conduct commercial negotiations” and hoped the U.S. would support a resolution.

The Path to a New TikTok Deal

The confirmation of the TikTok deal is a result of months of intense negotiations. The U.S. Congress passed a law requiring ByteDance to divest its U.S. assets or face a nationwide ban. Trump, who has credited the app with helping his presidential campaign, has repeatedly delayed the ban’s enforcement. The app’s future has been a major point of contention, with U.S. lawmakers citing national security concerns about user data and the app’s algorithm. Critics feared the platform could be a tool for Chinese propaganda.

The call between the two leaders also touched on broader trade disputes, fentanyl, and geopolitical issues. Trump wrote that they also discussed the war between Russia and Ukraine. He and Xi agreed to meet at a summit in South Korea next month. The two leaders also planned reciprocal visits to their respective countries. This new TikTok deal represents a significant step towards a diplomatic resolution.