U.S. Treasury’s Bessent says U.S., China reached ‘final deal’ on TikTok; details not yet public
(Washington | October 26, 2025) — U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday that the United States and China have reached “a final deal on TikTok,” telling CBS’s Face the Nation that the agreement is complete but providing few specifics. Further details about the terms, timing, and enforcement mechanisms were not immediately made public.
Background
- TikTok, owned by China-based ByteDance, has faced years of U.S. scrutiny over data security and national security concerns.
- In 2024, the United States enacted legislation requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok’s U.S. operations or face restrictions from app stores and internet hosting, amid ongoing court challenges.
- Previous attempts to resolve concerns have included proposals for data localization and oversight (sometimes referred to as “Project Texas”) and consideration of changes in ownership, governance, and source-code access. China added certain algorithms to its export control list in 2020, complicating any transfer of TikTok’s recommendation technology.
Developing Situation
- Appearing on Face the Nation, Bessent said a “final deal” had been reached but did not outline core elements such as ownership structure, algorithm control, data safeguards, or implementation deadlines.
- It was not immediately clear how the agreement addresses U.S. legal requirements for divestment versus operational safeguards, nor how it navigates China’s export controls on core technology.
- As of publication, the parties had not released a joint statement or published the text of any agreement. The Vagabond News has not independently reviewed the terms.
Global Reactions
- Official public reactions from ByteDance, TikTok, U.S. agencies, or Chinese authorities were not available at the time of publication.
- Internationally, governments have adopted varied approaches to TikTok: some regulators have focused on platform transparency and data access, while others have placed limits on official devices. A U.S.–China agreement could influence these policies, depending on the final terms and oversight provisions.
Analysis / Outlook
- If confirmed and implemented, a final U.S.–China deal on TikTok could avert a forced divestment or ban in the American market and establish a framework for cross-border data governance.
- Key questions include who controls TikTok’s U.S. operations and recommendation algorithms, how user data is protected and audited, and which authorities enforce compliance.
- The outcome may set an important precedent for how major economies manage national security concerns around globally used, algorithm-driven platforms. Clear, public details will be critical to assessing durability and legal viability.
Image:
!TikTok logo displayed on a smartphone
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
!U.S. Treasury Building in Washington, D.C.
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
— The Vagabond News
Sources: Reuters, BBC, AP, AFP, CBS News
