April 5, 2025 – TikTok’s fate in the U.S. remains uncertain as President Donald Trump has granted a 75-day extension on April 4, 2025, to finalize a deal, pushing the ban deadline to mid-June. The decision follows China’s refusal to approve a proposed deal, citing Trump’s recent tariff hikes, underscoring the intersection of technology, national security, and global trade tensions.
The TikTok ban, rooted in a 2024 law signed by former President Joe Biden, mandates that TikTok divest from its China-based parent company, ByteDance, over concerns that the Chinese government could access U.S. user data. Originally set to take effect on January 19, 2025, the ban was delayed by Trump with a 75-day extension on his first day in office, a deadline that was set to expire on April 5. The new extension comes after China stalled a deal that would have created a U.S.-based TikTok entity majority-owned by American investors, with ByteDance retaining a minority stake, as reported in a summary of the delay. “We hope to continue working in good faith with China,” Trump said on Truth Social, as quoted in a report on the extension.
China’s objection is tied to Trump’s recent 34% tariff increase on Chinese imports, which prompted a retaliatory 54% tariff on U.S. goods, as detailed in a breakdown of the tariff dispute. The Chinese Embassy emphasized that China “has always respected the legitimate rights of enterprises,” but the tariff issue has complicated negotiations, according to a statement on the matter. ByteDance noted that any deal requires approval from the Chinese government, as highlighted in a detailed overview of the situation.
In the U.S., where TikTok has 170 million users—used by over 62% of 18- to 29-year-olds, per a 2024 Pew Research survey—the extension offers temporary relief. Tech hubs like San Francisco and Seattle, where the app drives innovation in content creation and marketing, are closely watching the outcome. The saga mirrors other U.S. tech regulations, such as restrictions on AI platforms like DeepSeek, reflecting broader national security concerns. It also highlights the role of tech in global trade, a topic seen in discussions about smart tech ecosystems, as tariffs impact tech supply chains.
Oracle is reportedly leading a coalition of U.S. investors to acquire TikTok’s U.S. operations, but the deal’s complexity and China’s approval remain hurdles, as noted in a report on tech mergers. Legal experts caution that Trump’s repeated use of executive orders to delay the ban may violate the 2024 law, which requires specific conditions for such extensions. As TikTok navigates this uncertain landscape, its future in the U.S. hangs in the balance, with mid-June as the next critical deadline. For more on tech and policy trends, explore our coverage of decentralized apps and stay updated with Technocodex.
