The United States and China have agreed on a deal to transfer ownership of TikTok into US-controlled hands. This follows long negotiations, driven by Washington’s national security concerns over TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance. The deal was announced by US trade officials in Madrid.
Details of the deal have been mostly kept secret: the commercial terms are said to have been agreed between private parties, but neither side has disclosed what those terms are. China’s negotiators warned that while they are negotiating in good faith, the US should avoid further “suppression” of Chinese firms.
This agreement represents a major step in resolving long-standing tension. Congress had passed a bill in 2024 demanding ByteDance sell TikTok or face a ban. The platform is hugely popular in the US, and while federal devices are barred from using it, many users continue to access the app. The deal still needs approval from presidents on both sides to be finalized.
Reference:
Gedeon, J. (2025, 15 septiembre). US and China reach deal to transfer TikTok ownership, trade officials say. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/sep/15/trump-china-tiktok-sale-ban