In a surprising development amid ongoing U.S.-China tensions, President Donald Trump announced Friday that a long-disputed deal allowing TikTok to continue operations in the United States has received final approval from Beijing. The revelation came shortly after a productive phone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping, during which the leaders also outlined plans for upcoming face-to-face diplomacy.
Trump shared the news in a post on his Truth Social platform, describing the discussion as “a very good one.” He expressed optimism about future talks, noting, “we will be speaking again by phone, appreciate the TikTok approval, and both look forward to meeting at APEC!” The reference was to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, a key forum for 21 Pacific Rim economies, scheduled for late October in South Korea. Trump further indicated he intends to travel to China in the early months of next year, while inviting Xi to visit the U.S. “at an appropriate time.”
According to China’s official news agency Xinhua, Xi used the call to underscore the vital role of bilateral relations between the world’s two largest economies. He pressed the U.S. to steer clear of unilateral trade barriers, a pointed reminder of the frictions that have defined their interactions.
The exchange arrives against the backdrop of Trump’s earlier tariff offensive against China, which had severely tested ties. Yet, the conversation also addressed progress on trade flashpoints, including the easing of Beijing’s curbs on exporting rare earth elements—critical minerals essential for manufacturing everything from consumer smartphones to advanced fighter jets.
Trump has long praised TikTok’s influence, once calling it of “tremendous value” for aiding his reelection bid. Facing a 2024 law aimed at safeguarding data privacy and national security, he repeatedly delayed deadlines for the app to divest from its Chinese parent, ByteDance. On Monday, Chinese authorities confirmed a mutual understanding on key issues: authorizing the use of intellectual property, including TikTok’s core algorithm, and designating a third-party partner to oversee U.S. user data and content moderation.
Details of the agreement remain under wraps, with neither Washington nor Beijing releasing specifics. Meanwhile, Trump has advocated for European allies to impose steeper tariffs on China as leverage to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict, all while maintaining that his rapport with Xi remains “very good.”
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