U.S. and China Report Framework Deal to Avert TikTok Ban as Deadline Nears
Administration officials say a U.S. sale would be required; Chinese sources describe a “basic consensus” while terms remain undeveloped
The United States and China have reached a framework agreement that could allow TikTok to avoid a nationwide ban, U.S. officials and Chinese sources said Monday, though the two sides provided few details and key decisions remain unresolved.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described the announcement as a framework; he and other U.S. officials said any durable solution would require the app’s owner, ByteDance, to sell TikTok to a U.S.-based buyer. Chinese officials characterized talks as having produced a “basic consensus,” according to statements released Monday.
The announcement comes with a fast-moving timetable. Congress in 2024 set a requirement that ByteDance divest TikTok or face a ban after lawmakers expressed national security concerns about Chinese access to American data. A nationwide ban had been slated to begin in January 2025 after ByteDance missed that statutory deadline. The Trump administration delayed enforcement through a series of executive orders; the most recent order, issued in June, set a fresh compliance deadline of Sept. 17.
With that deadline two days away, officials said negotiations were ongoing and that the framework does not yet contain the full legal and operational terms needed to close a deal. The White House has not released text of any agreement or outlined how a sale would be structured, how the app’s algorithm and data flows would be governed, or how enforcement would be monitored.
U.S. concerns driving the push for a sale center on the ownership and control of TikTok, which is operated by the Beijing-based company ByteDance. National security officials have flagged ByteDance’s ties to the Chinese state, the platform’s proprietary recommendation algorithm and the scope of data TikTok collects from roughly 170 million American users as potential risks. Lawmakers and national security officials have argued that a U.S. buyer and governance safeguards would reduce the risk of data access or uses of the platform that could align with Chinese government interests.
Administration officials emphasized that any deal must be enforceable and should address both data security and the app’s recommendation engine, which drives engagement. How those guarantees would be implemented—whether through a full sale of the business, a trust structure, operational separation, or other legal mechanisms—was not specified.
The talks also carry political weight. TikTok’s large and young user base in the United States has made the issue salient among voters who are a growing focus for both parties, complicating any move to restrict access to the app without an apparent remedy that preserves user experience.
President Donald Trump indicated he would speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping about the discussions on Friday, and officials said the deadline could yet be extended while parties refine terms and legal language. Legal experts and potential buyers have previously warned that complex divestiture requirements and regulatory approvals could take months to complete.
Analysts said that even if the sides reach a comprehensive agreement, translating a framework into binding, verifiable safeguards will be legally and technically complex. Congressional scrutiny is also likely to continue; lawmakers who championed the divestiture requirement have demanded enforceable measures that would remain in place regardless of changes in corporate structure.
Until detailed terms are released, the fate of the app in the United States remains uncertain. Negotiators on both sides face a narrow window to convert the reported framework into a legally binding arrangement that satisfies U.S. national security concerns while securing Beijing’s acceptance of a U.S. sale or other remedies.
Officials cautioned that the announcement of a framework does not guarantee a final deal, and that further consultations and legal work lie ahead. If no enforceable agreement is completed, officials have indicated the administration retains the option to press ahead with restrictions or a ban under existing statutes and executive authority.