After intensive negotiations in Madrid, the United States and China have agreed to a framework deal that will allow TikTok to remain operational in the U.S. under U.S.-controlled ownership, according to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. The deal addresses the looming threat of a U.S. ban that could take effect as soon as September 17, unless ByteDance divests its U.S. operations.
Trump‑Xi Phone Call to Finalize Details
Though the framework has been agreed, many key details—such as the commercial terms, how ownership will be transferred, and how algorithmic control or data privacy issues will be handled—were not disclosed. Bessent said the two leaders, President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, are scheduled to speak on Friday to further solidify and potentially finalize these unresolved components. Greer noted that the September 17 deadline might be briefly extended to allow the framework to be implemented.
National Security and Trade Concessions on the Table
During the talks in Madrid, U.S. officials made clear that they were not willing to compromise national security concerns in pursuit of convenience for a popular social media platform. Bessent indicated that China had entered the negotiations with what he called “very aggressive asks,” including demands for tariff reductions and loosening of technology export controls. While some of those demands were dropped or modified as part of the framework, further conversations will be required. The deal is part of a broader package of negotiations between the two countries covering trade policy, tariffs, export controls, and cooperation on issues like money laundering and illicit fentanyl trade.
Meanwhile, President Trump publicly hailed the talks in Europe as having gone “very well,” hinting that the agreement would save TikTok—a platform many young Americans support—and that further progress was expected during the Trump‑Xi phone call.
