TikTok deal finally reached in the US, hopefully
After years of uncertainty, delays, and looming bans, TikTok’s future in the US may finally be secure.
TikTok set to stay in the US
At long last, it looks like the TikTok saga in the US is coming to a close. After years of delays and three ban deadline extensions, the US and China have reportedly reached a “framework deal” over TikTok. Yes, you read that right- a deal (I’m just as surprised as you are).
According to statements from President Trump and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, it appears that a deal has been all but finalised just in time for the latest September 17th deadline.
Of course, nothing’s ever that simple. Bessent kept things vague, saying only that the commercial terms have been agreed “between two private parties”. He declined to confirm whether a US company has bought the platform.
Not to mention, Trump still needs to speak with Chinese President Xi this Friday to get China’s final approval. So, while things look promising, it’s best not to get ahead of ourselves. Things aren’t 100% locked in just yet.
How did we get here?
The fuss all goes back to US national security concerns over TikTok’s Chinese ownership. In fact, TikTok’s fate in the States has been hanging in the balance since 2020, when Trump pushed to ban the app during his first presidential run.
Fast forward five years, and the same security issues lie at the heart of the conversation. Bessent said the deal needed to be “fair for the Chinese,” but that US national security was the top priority.
A small recap
Within those five years, TikTok was only actually banned at the beginning of this year (January 19), after a sell-or-ban deadline passed under former President Biden. The app then went dark for a day before Trump took to office, signing the first of three extensions to give TikTok more time. The latest sell-or-ban extension was due to expire September 17th, with doubts surrounding whether a deal may ever be reached.
In July, Trump’s Commerce Secretary even warned TikTok might be gone from the US for good. But given Trump’s continuous efforts to keep the app running in the US, that never really seemed realistic.
Why this matters for artists and creators
For the music industry, a more certain future for TikTok in the US is a big sigh of relief. TikTok has become a crucial platform for music discovery, helping propel old tracks and rising stars to new levels. Losing access to the US market would have been a huge blow to this discovery power.
If this deal holds, creators, artists, and users alike can finally breathe easier.