Donald Trump Says Microsoft Is In Discussions To Acquire TikTok, Names India, China As High-Tariff Countries

Last week, the US President said that he was engaged in discussions with multiple people about buying the app and would possibly have a decision on its future in 30 days.

The app currently has about 170 million American users and was briefly taken offline on Jan 19.

Source : TikTok

US President Donald Trump on Monday told reporters that Microsoft is conducting discussions to acquire TikTok. While the companies refused to comment on the matter, the President said that he would like to see a bidding war over the social media app. 

The app currently has about 170 million American users and was briefly taken offline on Jan 19 due to a law. The law stated that TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, is required to either sell it on national security grounds or face a ban, reported Reuters. After assuming office on January 20, Trump signed an executive order which sought to delay the enforcement of this law by 75 days.

Last week, the US President said that he was engaged in discussions with multiple people about buying the app and would possibly have a decision on its future in 30 days.

Earlier, Trump also commented that he was open to billionaire Elon Musk acquiring the social media app if his company, Tesla, wanted to do so. However, no comment has been made by the Tesla CEO on the matter.

Trump Names India, China As High-Tariff Countries

Notably, the President also stated recently that the US will impose tariffs on countries that ‘harm; America. Speaking with House Republicans at a Florida retreat on Monday, Trump named China, Brazil, and India as high-tariff countries and said, “We're going to put tariffs on outside countries and outside people that really mean harm to us. Well, they mean us harm, but they basically want to make their country good.”

Earlier, the President also talked about imposing 100 per cent tariffs on the BRICS group, which also includes India. He asked companies to set up their manufacturing facilities in the US if they wished to avoid tariffs.