• President Trump asserts that the potential deal for TikTok's U.S. operations is still “on the table” despite heightened tariffs on China.
• Negotiations were reportedly progressing until Trump's recent tariffs escalated the trade tensions, complicating agreement prospects.
• The deadline for ByteDance to divest TikTok's U.S. assets has been extended to June 19, following a series of legal motions.
• Key U.S. senators have raised concerns regarding the legality of Trump's actions regarding the TikTok negotiations.
• Chinese approval is essential for any deal, leaving the future of TikTok's U.S. operations uncertain.

U.S. President Donald Trump reaffirmed on Wednesday that ongoing negotiations for a potential deal to save TikTok from a U.S. ban remain “on the table,” even as his escalating tariff war with China complicates discussions. According to Reuters, Trump expressed optimism about moving forward with the deal aimed at spinning off the U.S. assets of the popular social media app, which has over 170 million users in the U.S.

In a recent Oval Office address, Trump noted that while a deal appears promising, the ongoing tariffs against China serve as a significant hurdle. "We have a deal with some very good people, some very rich companies that would do a great job with it, but we’re going to have to wait and see what’s going to happen with China," Trump stated, alluding to the complex negotiations taking place between Washington and Beijing.

As tensions mount, experts agree that Trump's latest tariffs—escalating rates against Chinese imports to a staggering 125%—have disrupted initial agreements to divest TikTok's Chinese ownership, as highlighted by HuffPost. These tariffs prompted China to withdraw approval for the would-be deal, which initially involved American investors owning a majority stake in a newly formed company while ByteDance retained minority interest.

Multiple U.S. lawmakers, including Senators Mark Warner and Ed Markey, have raised legal questions regarding the extension of the divestment deadline and emphasized that Trump lacks the authority to grant repeated delays without violating statutory mandates. Markey sought legislative action to extend the deadline but faced obstruction, a situation detailed in The Hill.

A source close to the negotiations revealed that without a resolution on tariff disputes, the situation remains particularly precarious for TikTok, as U.S. officials must navigate international trade laws as well as national security laws signed by former President Joe Biden mandating ByteDance's divestment.

Experts have highlighted that China's response to the escalating tariffs strengthens its bargaining power, with analyst Sarah Kreps commenting on the leverage gained by Beijing amidst the negotiation impasse. This situation raises larger concerns regarding U.S.-China relations as well as the future of technology companies operating across borders.

As the June 19 deadline looms, the prospects for TikTok's continued operation in the U.S. hang in the balance, with many stakeholders urging for clarity and adherence to legal obligations to ensure a secure future for the platform.

For further details, read the full articles on Forbes and SCMP.