TikTok Ban Looms in U.S. as China Blocks Algorithm Deal

US President Donald Trump actually wanted to be celebrated as a rescuer of the Tiklok video platform in the USA. Now, however, he apparently loses patience. The US government is now threatening to switch off the offer soon.

China doesn’t want to like Trump

As Minister of Commerce Howard Lutnick on Thursday to the news channel CNBC explained that Tiktok could soon be switched off in the United States – provided the Chinese government does not finally agree to the planned sale of the app. Before taking office, Trump had promised to save Tikkok. However, Vice President JD Vance is now responsible, who unsuccessfully negotiated by a deal with the Chinese parent company bytedance for months. The main problem: The Chinese government apparently refuses to agree to the sale of Tikok’s nuclear technology – especially the recommendation algorithm.

According to Lutnick, Trump’s deal provides that US companies should receive control over Tiktok. “Bytedance can keep a small proportion, but the technology and algorithm must be in American hands,” emphasized the minister. This is the only way to encounter the national security concerns that China could grab data through the app or to influence users in a targeted manner. Bytedance itself rejects the allegations that are slumbering. A member of the board of directors already proposed a solution without sale in January, in which the control takes place locally to comply with US laws – a proposal that met with little love in Washington.

Negotiation mass TikTok

Apparently there are strategic considerations in the trade dispute with China behind the impending ban. Observers suspect that Beijing Tiktok considered a negotiating mass – and would only accept the deal if the United States in turn makes concessions in customs duties. So far, however, these conversations have been tough. A 90-day ceasefire is still running in the trade conflict, but this ends in August-one month before Trump’s Deadline for the TikTok deal.

Failure could not only mean the end of Tikkok in the USA, but also have an impact on the fragile relationship between Washington and Beijing. Uncertainty is now growing for millions of Tikok users and content buyers in the United States. Lutnick made it clear: “If China does not approved the deal, Tiktok will be switched off in the USA – and this decision is imminent.”