WASHINGTON, March 27 (Bernama-dpa) -- US President Donald Trump on Wednesday suggested that he could offer China "a little reduction in tariffs" in return for Beijing's approval of the sale of popular short video platform TikTok, German Press Agency (dpa) reported.
Speaking to journalists in the Oval Office, Trump stated that China would "possibly" need to play a role in the form of an approval, and he believes they will do so.
"Maybe I'll give them a little reduction in tariffs or something to get it done," Trump said, adding that "every point in tariff is worth more money than TikTok."
Under US law, TikTok's Chinese parent company ByteDance was required to divest from the app by January 19, or risk a ban.
However, Trump granted a 75-day grace period, which is set to expire on April 5. He has now indicated that the deadline could be extended, despite the lack of legal grounds for such a move.
US Vice President JD Vance recently expressed confidence that a solution for TikTok's future in the US would be reached by early April.
Both ByteDance and TikTok have stated that selling only the US portion of the app would compromise its functionality.
"There are numerous ways you can buy TikTok and we will find the one that's best for the country," Trump said.
Former president Joe Biden signed the ban-or-sale law into effect last April.
US lawmakers fear that the Chinese government could gain access to vast amounts of personal data through TikTok and use the platform to exert political influence.
-- BERNAMA-dpa
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