TikTok Sale Delayed Again: Why the US–China Standoff Isn’t Over
Photo by Solen Feyissa on Unsplash
Source
bbc.com
Published
Dec 14, 2025
Category
Mobile & Devices
Executive summary
A billionaire investor seeking to acquire TikTok's US operations began waiting after hearing news of the app's sale. Under a law passed in 2024, the US would either purchase TikTok or ban it. The law was signed by Joe Biden and approved by the courts in 2025. The agreement was to take place in October between US President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. This meeting ended without taking place. Since that day, TikTok's Chinese owner Bytedance and China have said they have approved the sale.
Analyst insight
The sale of TikTok is contingent upon China's approval. We can say that the continuous postponement is not indecision but a deliberate attempt to buy time, because the US does not want to shut down TikTok and alienate young voters. There may be another postponement in the short term, or it could be a complete ban, which is highly unlikely because the economic and political cost would be too high. In conclusion, TikTok is not being sold; the U.S. is bluffing, and China is waiting.
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