TikTok deal in the making but key questions remain unanswered

THE recent framework agreement between the US and China regarding TikTok’s future represents a pivotal moment in digital diplomacy and international tech governance. 

After years of regulatory uncertainty, legal battles and geopolitical tensions, the announcement of a “basic framework consensus” signals a potential resolution to one of the most contentious tech policy disputes of the past decade, especially following a direct call between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday (Sep 19). According to Trump, Xi had approved the deal.

The TikTok saga began during Trump’s first term, evolving into a complex web of national security concerns, economic interests and diplomatic negotiations. The Biden administration formalised these concerns in April 2024 by signing legislation that would ban TikTok unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, divested its US operations. The law was set to take effect on Jan 19, 2025, creating a deadline that intensified negotiations as Trump returned to office.