US and China reach framework deal on TikTok

The United States and China reached a framework agreement to switch short-video app TikTok to US-controlled ownership that will be confirmed in a call between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday, US officials said on Monday.

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US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said a Wednesday deadline that could have switched off the popular social media app in the US encouraged Chinese negotiators to reach a potential deal. He said that deadline could be extended by 90 days to allow the deal to be finalized. He declined to discuss specifics of the deal.

Bessent said when commercial terms of the deal are revealed, it will preserve aspects of TikTok that Chinese negotiators care about, including its “Chinese characteristics.” “They're interested in Chinese characteristics of the app, which they think are soft power. We don't care about Chinese characteristics. We care about national security,” Bessent told reporters at the conclusion of two days of talks in Madrid. It is the second time this year that the two sides have said they were nearing a TikTok deal. The earlier announcement in March ultimately did not pan out.

Any agreement could require approval by the Republican-controlled Congress, which passed a law in 2024 requiring divestiture due to fears that TikTok’s US user data could be accessed by the Chinese government, allowing Beijing to spy on Americans or conduct influence operations through the app.