Officials announce a 'framework' for keeping TikTok online in the U.S.

"U.S. officials say they have reached a "framework" for a deal with China over the fate of the hugely popular short-video platform TikTok, an apparent breakthrough in the multi-year standoff over the ban against the Chinese-owned app. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the news after two days of talks with Chinese officials in Madrid. He added that President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping would "speak on Friday to complete the deal.""

"Last year, Congress passed the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which bans TikTok in the U.S. unless it is sold to a non-Chinese owner. The company is owned by Beijing-based ByteDance. Former president Biden signed the bill into law and although TikTok sued, arguing that a ban violates users' free speech rights, the law was upheld in early January by the Supreme Court."

"Since then, the Trump administration has been trying to broker a deal for an American company, or companies, to buy TikTok from ByteDance in order to keep the app from going dark in the United States. But the issue has become wrapped up in sweeping trade talks between Washington and Beijing that include strategically thorny topics like tariffs, fentanyl, microchips and rare earths."

U.S. officials say a framework has been reached with China to determine TikTok's future after talks in Madrid, with Presidents Trump and Xi set to speak to finalize the arrangement. China has not yet confirmed the announcement. Congress passed the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act banning TikTok in the U.S. unless it is sold to a non-Chinese owner; ByteDance owns the company. The law was signed, challenged in court, and upheld by the Supreme Court in early January. Executive orders have paused the ban temporarily while negotiations proceed, which are entangled with wider U.S.-China trade issues. TikTok was used by more than half of Americans in early 2024, raising security and legislative concerns.

Read at www.npr.org