US to ban transactions with TikTok and WeChat in 45 days

Donald Trump cites national emergency in plan to crack down on Chinese apps

President Donald Trump says the U.S. must take "aggressive action" to protect national security. © Reuters

YIFAN YU and COCO LIU, Nikkei staff writers

August 7, 2020 10:57 JST

Updated on August 7, 2020 18:32 JST

PALO ALTO, U.S./HONG KONG -- U.S. President Donald Trump has issued executive orders to ban U.S. transactions with WeChat, the messaging app owned by Tencent Holdings, and ByteDance, owner of TikTok, within 45 days, describing the Chinese-owned companies as threats to national security.