The popular TikTok application, threatened with ban in the United States in the name of national security, will be able to remain in the country, Donald Trump having given, Saturday, September 19, the green light to a project involving Oracle and Walmart.

"I gave my approval to the agreement. If they materialize it so much the better. If not, that will also be okay", declared the Republican president, before taking off for a meeting of campaign in North Carolina.

TikTok, a subsidiary of Chinese group ByteDance, confirmed shortly after preparing a plan to create a new company involving Oracle as a technology partner in the United States and Walmart as a business partner.

>> To read: TikTok's long Stations of the Cross to be loved by Washington

Called TikTok Global, it would be based in the United States and would hire 25,000 people, Oracle and Walmart said in a separate statement.

Oracle could buy 12.5% ​​stake in TikTok and Walmart 7.5% before a future listing on the New York Stock Exchange scheduled within a year.

ByteDance would keep the rest of the capital, a source familiar with the matter told AFP.

But the Chinese company being 40% owned by American investors, the majority of the application would ultimately pass under the American flag.

>> To read: TikTok, Donald Trump and Oracle: little arrangements between friends?

"We are pleased that the proposal from TikTok, Oracle and Walmart resolves the security concerns raised by the US administration and resolves questions regarding the future of TikTok in the United States," commented a spokesperson for the app. .

"Security will be 100%"

If it materializes, such an outcome could make it possible to put out one of the many fires currently smoldering between Washington and Beijing, especially on the technological front.

It may also allow Americans to continue using this application, which is very popular with young people: "In view of recent positive developments", the Commerce Department has announced that it is postponing the ban on downloading TikTok at least until September 27. in the United States which was to come into force on Sunday.

The application, which makes it possible to broadcast short, often musical or humorous videos, has some 100 million users in the country.

>> To read: TikTok, Donald Trump's latest tactic to challenge China

Without making any evidence public, the White House tenant has claimed for weeks that TikTok has been spying on Beijing's behalf.

In the name of national security, he had given his parent company ByteDance until Sunday to cede TikTok's activities on American soil to a company "made in the USA".

The US administration had specified on Friday that it would prevent the downloading in the United States of TikTok, as well as that of WeChat, an application of the Chinese giant Tencent used for messaging, purchases, payments and other services. .

Donald Trump, who is making his pugnacity towards China a campaign argument less than 50 days before the presidential election, estimated that with the agreement, "(TikTok's) security will be 100%".

Oracle would be in charge of hosting all US user data and the security of associated computer systems.

Walmart, for its part, would provide its online sales, order management and payment services.

"Over $ 5 billion in new taxes"

After the deal, TikTok Global is expected to pay "more than $ 5 billion in new taxes to the US Treasury" while the companies involved in the deal launch an initiative to expand online education, said. indicated Oracle and Walmart.

The president, who had insisted that the government be paid for authorizing the agreement, initially announced that the companies would "donate" $ 5 billion for education.

China had reacted strongly to threats to ban downloads from TikTok and WeChat by denouncing on Saturday "the intimidation" of the United States and by establishing a mechanism allowing it to restrict the activities of foreign companies.

Against a "list of untrusted entities" - whose names have not been made public - Beijing is planning potential sanctions ranging from fines to restriction of activities or entry of equipment and personnel into China.

"While tensions between the United States and China at all levels of the tech chain are far from resolved, the solution found to end the TikTok / ByteDance impasse and address the complex political implications is a relief for tech investors, ”Wedbush analyst Dan Ives said.

The project presented on Saturday by TikTok has yet to be finalized by the companies and approved by a national security committee of the US government, the Treasury Department said.

With AFP

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