Mon Sep 15 19:30:25 UTC 2025: Here’s a news article summarizing the text, focusing on the key events and information:

**TikTok Deal Reached Between US and China, Averting Ban**

**Washington D.C.** – A last-minute agreement between the United States and China has averted a looming ban on the popular short-form video app TikTok in the US. Just hours before a Wednesday deadline, officials from both countries announced a framework agreement to transfer TikTok’s ownership from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to a US-based entity.

The deal, applauded by US President Donald Trump, was hammered out during trade talks in Madrid that concluded on Monday. While the White House declined to disclose specific commercial terms, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed that an agreement had been reached between the private parties. Bessent emphasized that the US would not compromise national security concerns for the sake of a social media app.

“Our Chinese counterparts have come with a very aggressive ask. We are not willing to sacrifice national security for a social media app,” said Bessent.

The agreement is seen as a potential de-escalator in the tense trade relationship between the two nations, potentially paving the way for further trade negotiations. Maria Pechurina, director of international trade at Peacock Tariff Consulting, noted that the fate of TikTok was explicitly linked to progress on tariff reductions and related trade concessions during the Madrid conversations.

The deal comes after the US pushed other nations to impose tariffs on China over purchases of Russian oil. The US President will discuss the TikTok deal with his Chinese counterpart President Xi Jinping on Friday. Experts warn that the agreement is not final until Xi and Trump confirm it.

TikTok’s future in the US has been uncertain for years. Trump proposed banning the app in 2020 and signed two executive orders aimed at restricting it. In April 2024, under then-President Joe Biden, the White House signed a law formally banning TikTok unless it sold its US operations. The Supreme Court upheld the law, and the app went dark briefly before the ban was paused during the early days of Trump’s subsequent presidency.

TikTok’s cultural and political significance has grown in recent years. During the 2024 election, pro-Trump videos on TikTok nearly doubled those supporting Biden.

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