Washington D.C. — Former U.S. President Donald Trump has once again drawn attention to his administration’s trade policies, stating that tariffs imposed on China played a decisive role in influencing Beijing's position on the TikTok ownership deal. Speaking in a recent media interaction, Trump said, “It was very close, but China changed because of tariffs.”
The TikTok saga has been one of the most high-profile examples of tech diplomacy, with Washington raising national security concerns over the Chinese-owned short video platform’s data practices. In 2020, the Trump administration pushed for TikTok’s U.S. operations to be sold to an American company, citing risks of user data being accessed by the Chinese government.
According to Trump, the Chinese government became more cooperative after realizing the economic strain caused by U.S. tariffs on billions of dollars worth of Chinese imports. “They were not going to budge, but once we hit them with tariffs, they had no choice,” Trump claimed.
The former president’s remarks come amid renewed discussions about the future of TikTok in the United States, especially as current lawmakers debate new regulations targeting Chinese tech firms. TikTok has consistently denied allegations of data misuse and maintains that it operates independently of Beijing’s influence.
Trade analysts believe Trump’s comments reflect his long-standing belief in tariffs as a powerful negotiating tool. However, critics argue that such measures also had a negative impact on American consumers and businesses due to higher costs on imported goods.
The Biden administration has so far taken a more cautious approach, focusing on broader technology and cybersecurity strategies rather than targeting individual companies. Meanwhile, the TikTok deal remains unresolved, with proposals of restructuring and increased U.S.-based data storage still on the table.
As geopolitical tensions continue to affect global tech policies, Trump’s statements underscore the role of economic pressure in shaping international negotiations, particularly in the digital space.
