简体中文
The U.S. Department of Commerce Thursday issued an order banning U.S. transactions with Chinese video-sharing app TikTok and messaging app WeChat starting September 20.
From that date, any provision of service to distribute or maintain the WeChat or TikTok mobile applications, constituent code, or application updates through an online mobile application store in the U.S. will be prohibited, the order said.
The announcement comes ahead of an expected statement Friday by Trump on whether the White House will approve a deal between TikTok owner ByteDance and U.S. software firm Oracle, which will take a minority stake in TikTok and become a "trusted technology partner" for the company in the U.S.
ByteDance told CGTN on Thursday that the agreement will require approval from both the Chinese and U.S. authorities.
The Chinese company said it was discussing cooperation plans with some companies to resolve concerns of the U.S. government and the public regarding data security. Business and technology sales are not involved in the plans and there is no final deal so far, ByteDance added.
U.S. President Donald Trump has cited national security concerns in trying to ban TikTok unless its American operations are sold locally. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the final deadline for the deal is Sunday.
Previously, TikTok confirmed that it had submitted a proposal to the U.S. administration that "would resolve the administration's security concerns," making Oracle its technology partner in the country but keeping majority ownership of the app.
Since the TikTok controversy started in early July, Chinese officials have repeatedly stressed Beijing's position that ByteDance should not be coerced by the U.S.
Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Thursday, urged the United States to respect the principles of market economy and fair competition.
(CGTN)
