The U.S. government has issued a stern warning to China, stating that if Beijing fails to approve the proposed sale of the short-video app TikTok, the platform will be banned within the United States.
According to Reuters, U.S. Commerce Secretary told CNBC that if China does not give the green light to the sale deal, TikTok’s operations in the U.S. will be shut down.
She emphasized that the U.S. must have control over the algorithm that powers TikTok, calling it a matter of national technological sovereignty.
Under the proposed agreement, ByteDance or China would retain only a minor stake in the app, while full control—including the algorithm and underlying technology—would rest in American hands.
“If China approves the deal, it can move forward,” she stated. “But if they interfere, TikTok will be banned in the U.S.—and these decisions will be made very soon.”
TikTok has not yet officially responded to the statement.
Negotiations earlier this year aimed to create a new U.S.-based entity that would manage TikTok’s American operations, with majority ownership held by U.S. investors.
However, the process stalled after President Donald Trump imposed steep tariffs on Chinese goods, prompting Beijing to signal its opposition to the deal.
President Trump has already postponed the enforcement deadline of the TikTok law three times, even though the law originally mandated that the sale or shutdown be finalized by January 19, 2025.
In June, Trump issued an executive order allowing TikTok to continue operations in the U.S. until September 17, contingent on a resolution being reached.
