The US and China have agreed on a framework to transfer TikTok to US-controlled ownership, marking a major step in a long-running dispute over the app’s security. US trade representative Jamieson Greer confirmed the deal, while treasury secretary Scott Bessent said the commercial terms had been agreed but would not be publicly disclosed.
Chinese trade negotiator Li Chenggang said both sides reached a basic consensus to resolve TikTok-related issues through cooperation. The agreement follows US security concerns over TikTok’s Chinese parent, ByteDance, and legislation signed in 2024 requiring the company to sell the platform to a US-approved buyer or face a ban.
The TikTok saga dates back to 2020, when former President Donald Trump ordered ByteDance to divest the app. Deals involving Microsoft, Walmart, and Oracle all fell through, though Oracle has hosted TikTok’s US data since 2022 under a security arrangement.
Final details of the transfer will be settled during a meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The US has over 135 million active TikTok users, including the White House, though government devices remain barred from the app.
