US president Donald Trump said he plans to meet Chinese Premier Xi Jinping in South Korea next month following a phone call in which the Chinese leader also approved of a deal to take control of TikTok's US operations. Trump wrote on Truth Social the call was productive and the approval was appreciated, adding that he would travel to China next year after the two meet.
TikTok, which is run by Chinese firm Bytedance, was previously told it had to sell its US operations or risk being shut down. Trump, however, delayed implementing the ban four times since it was first announced in January, and earlier this week extended the deadline again to December.
In his post, Trump mentioned that both leaders made progress on trade issues and would encounter at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea, scheduled for the end of October. The president provided no more details on the TikTok deal which he said would be confirmed during the call. Reports suggest that a group of US firms, including Oracle, may help TikTok continue operating in the US with algorithm technology licensed from ByteDance.
The call indicates a shift in the U.S.'s approach to TikTok as Trump acknowledged its significant value and its role in his 2024 electoral campaign, despite ongoing concerns from U.S. lawmakers regarding its links to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The conversation between Trump and Xi is their second this year, aiming to address various trade topics while avoiding heated tariffs and strict export controls.
TikTok, which is run by Chinese firm Bytedance, was previously told it had to sell its US operations or risk being shut down. Trump, however, delayed implementing the ban four times since it was first announced in January, and earlier this week extended the deadline again to December.
In his post, Trump mentioned that both leaders made progress on trade issues and would encounter at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea, scheduled for the end of October. The president provided no more details on the TikTok deal which he said would be confirmed during the call. Reports suggest that a group of US firms, including Oracle, may help TikTok continue operating in the US with algorithm technology licensed from ByteDance.
The call indicates a shift in the U.S.'s approach to TikTok as Trump acknowledged its significant value and its role in his 2024 electoral campaign, despite ongoing concerns from U.S. lawmakers regarding its links to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The conversation between Trump and Xi is their second this year, aiming to address various trade topics while avoiding heated tariffs and strict export controls.
