By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
MADRID — A framework agreement has been reached between the United States and China to address longstanding national security concerns over TikTok, likely paving the way for the app to remain accessible in the U.S. under new ownership arrangements. The deal was announced Monday by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, following trade discussions in Madrid. Reuters+2AP News+2
Under the framework, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, would transfer ownership of its U.S. operations to an American entity. While the exact commercial terms have not been disclosed, Bessent emphasized that “US national security comes first,” signaling that data security, algorithm control, and user privacy were central to the deal. AP News+1
The agreement comes against the backdrop of a 2024 law — the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (PAFACA) — which mandated that foreign-controlled apps deemed national security threats either divest or face a U.S. ban. Wikipedia+1
Further discussions are expected when President Donald Trump meets with Chinese Premier Xi Jinping later this week to finalize key details. Reuters+1
Analysts say the deal, if fully implemented, could avoid a nationwide shutdown of TikTok, allow continued use by its millions of U.S. users, and set a precedent for how foreign-based tech companies are treated under national security law.
