Trump Threatens Tariffs Against China if US-TikTok Deal is Blocked

In an extraordinary statement, US President Donald Trump warned that the United States could impose tariffs on China if the proposed merger between TikTok and its American parent company is blocked by Beijing.

Speaking at a press conference in Washington D.C., Mr. Trump asserted that prior to his administration's efforts, the Chinese government had never paid even a single cent in taxes to the US. "China charges us tariffs and we charge them very little," he claimed. "The only time China started paying was when I came along and... put a lot. We took in hundreds and billions of dollars."

Mr. Trump also mentioned that if a good deal for TikTok were presented, but China refused to approve it, the US would have enough leverage to impose tariffs on the Chinese economy. The President cautioned that while he might not necessarily make this move himself, "you certainly could do that".

The threat is part of an escalating trade standoff between the US and China, with both countries imposing tariffs on each other's goods in recent years. While details about the potential merger are scarce, TikTok has been at the center of a global debate over data security and national sovereignty.