ByteDance confirmed Saturday it will maintain TikTok's U.S. operations in compliance with Chinese law, following a pivotal phone conversation between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump. The discussion marked a critical step in resolving months of tensions over the popular video-sharing platform.
Diplomatic Breakthrough
President Xi emphasized the strategic importance of stable China-U.S. relations during Friday's call, stating both nations could achieve mutual success through cooperation. He reiterated China's commitment to market-driven solutions for TikTok's future, urging Washington to ensure "an open, fair and non-discriminatory environment" for Chinese investors.
Consensus Emerges
China's Commerce Ministry announced Saturday that both countries reached a basic framework agreement addressing TikTok's operations, including:
Entrusted management of U.S. user data security
Licensing agreements for algorithms and IP rights
Reduced investment barriers through bilateral cooperation
Wang Jingtao of China's Cyberspace Administration confirmed technical solutions will undergo strict regulatory review to ensure compliance with Chinese laws.
Commercial Realities Meet Geopolitics
Despite TikTok's compliance with U.S. data localization requirements – storing American user information domestically with Singaporean backups – the platform has faced escalating pressure through multiple U.S. administrations. Chinese officials criticized this trend as "politicization of trade issues," with Vice Commerce Minister Li Chenggang affirming China's opposition to "weaponizing technology and economic matters."
As technical teams finalize implementation details, the agreement signals potential stabilization in cross-Pacific digital trade relations while preserving TikTok's 150 million-strong U.S. user base.
