US to ban WeChat and halt TikTok downloads Sunday

China criticizes decision and vows to protect interests of its companies

"WeChat for all practical purposes will be shut down," U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross says, adding that the "real shutdown" for TikTok would come after Nov. 12 in the absence of a deal. © Reuters

ALEX FANG and YIFAN YU, Nikkei staff writers

September 18, 2020 21:16 JST

Updated on September 19, 2020 11:31 JST

NEW YORK/PALO ALTO, U.S. -- TikTok and WeChat will be banned from U.S. app stores starting Sunday, the Commerce Department said Friday, following President Donald Trump's decision last month to issue executive orders targeting the popular Chinese-owned services.

Any use of WeChat's code, functions or services will be banned in the U.S. from Sunday. The same ban kicks in for TikTok on Nov. 12 if a deal with an American buyer falls through.