TikTok Sale Stalls as China Resists U.S. Pressure for Broader Trade Concessions

Beijing signals it may shut down TikTok's U.S. operations rather than approve a sale without significant policy compromises from Washington.

ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese parent company, is delaying negotiations for a sale while awaiting approval from Beijing, which may not come without broader U.S. trade concessions.
President Donald Trump has extended the deadline for a forced sale or ban of TikTok, positioning himself as a key negotiator in the process.
China has retaliated against recent U.S. tariffs by imposing its own trade restrictions, including limits on mineral exports and an antitrust investigation into Google.
ByteDance faces little financial incentive to sell TikTok, as shutting down U.S. operations would not significantly harm its global business, while a sale could create a new competitor.
Potential buyers, including Elon Musk, Microsoft, and other high-profile bidders, have expressed interest, with the app's estimated valuation exceeding $50 billion.