Yazılar

TikTok’s Chinese Owner Appears to Delay Sale Negotiations, Awaiting Chinese Government Approval

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TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, seems to be delaying the sale of the popular short video app as it awaits approval from the Chinese government, according to a report by the Washington Post. Despite efforts by President Donald Trump’s allies to broker a deal to sell TikTok to an American buyer, ByteDance appears to be stalling negotiations.

The Chinese government is expected to take a hard-line stance, possibly allowing TikTok’s U.S. operations to shut down rather than approving a sale. China reportedly hopes to leverage the situation into a broader deal with the Trump administration that includes significant concessions on trade and technology policy.

This development comes amid escalating tensions between the U.S. and China, as the trade war intensifies. In retaliation to U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports, China imposed its own tariffs on U.S. goods. Meanwhile, TikTok, which has 170 million American users, was temporarily removed from app stores in the U.S. just before a law that would have mandated its sale took effect on January 19.

Trump signed an executive order the day after taking office, delaying enforcement of the law for 75 days. The legislation was introduced on national security concerns over the potential misuse of American user data by ByteDance.

 

China Announces Measures Against Google, U.S. Firms Amid Escalating Trade Tensions

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China announced a series of new measures on Tuesday targeting U.S. businesses, including tech giant Google, farm equipment manufacturers, and the owner of Calvin Klein, as trade tensions between the U.S. and China escalate. These actions followed the implementation of new U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods, with Beijing responding by imposing its own tariffs on U.S. products, such as coal, oil, and certain autos.

China’s State Administration for Market Regulation launched an investigation into Google, suspecting the company of violating the country’s anti-monopoly laws. While the details of the investigation remain unclear, it marks the latest development in the strained relationship between China and the U.S. Google, whose search engine and other services are blocked in China, derives only about 1% of its global revenue from the country. Despite this, it continues to collaborate with Chinese partners, particularly in advertising.

Alongside the Google probe, China’s Commerce Ministry added two U.S. companies to its “unreliable entity” list: PVH Corp, which owns brands like Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, and biotech firm Illumina. China accused both companies of taking actions that harmed Chinese enterprises and violated their rights. Being placed on this blacklist subjects companies to fines, trade restrictions, and other sanctions, such as the revocation of work permits for foreign employees. PVH expressed surprise at the decision, emphasizing its compliance with Chinese laws, while Illumina did not respond to media inquiries.

In addition to these measures, China also introduced 10% tariffs on U.S. farm equipment imports, potentially impacting firms such as Caterpillar, Deere & Co, and AGCO. The tariffs could also affect Tesla’s Cybertruck, as China may apply tariffs to this electric truck, pending regulatory approval. Tesla did not immediately comment on the development.

These actions intensify the ongoing trade conflict between the U.S. and China, particularly in sectors like technology and agriculture. Experts suggest that these measures are intended to signal China’s willingness to retaliate against U.S. interests while leaving room for de-escalation. The new tariffs will take effect on February 10, 2025.

 

Palantir Shares Surge on Strong AI-Driven Revenue Outlook

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Palantir’s shares soared more than 18% in premarket trading, following a forecast of upbeat annual revenue driven by the growing demand for its data analytics services, particularly from businesses eager to adopt generative AI technologies. The company’s market capitalization is set to increase by about $35 billion, based on current share prices of $99.31.

The firm’s platform, AIP, has seen strong growth as businesses accelerate investments in AI, utilizing the platform to test, debug, and evaluate AI scenarios. Russ Mould, an Investment Director at AJ Bell, remarked that Palantir is capitalizing on the AI wave, with industries making substantial technological investments.

Palantir’s co-founder Peter Thiel’s company is now viewed as a major player in the AI sector. Matt Britzman, Senior Equity Analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, compared Palantir’s AI success to Michael Jordan’s dominance in basketball, describing the company as a leader delivering game-winning results.

Palantir’s Chief Revenue Officer, Ryan Taylor, reiterated that the company would discourage commercial clients from using DeepSeek’s AI models but would continue to work with those who opt for them. U.S. officials are currently reviewing the national security implications of DeepSeek, with concerns raised by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

Additionally, Taylor noted that new tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump could further boost demand for Palantir’s analytics services, especially in supply chain and logistics management.

Following the announcement, at least nine analysts raised their price targets for Palantir, with Morgan Stanley upgrading its rating from ‘underweight’ to ‘equalweight,’ recognizing Palantir as a significant player in the AI space.