Published 13:01 IST, August 30th 2020

China revises tech export restrictions, could allow country to interfere in TikTok deal

In a big move, China revised its list of technologies banned or restricted for export adding 23 items to the list for the first time in 12 years

Reported by: Ananya Varma
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In a big move, China revised its list of techlogies banned or restricted for export adding 23 items to  list for first time in 12 years. China's sudden revision of restricted techlogies late on Friday night is being eyed with suspicion especially since experts believe that it could allow Beijing to directly interfere in divestment of TikTok and  deal being worked out between ByteDance and US companies like Microsoft in regards to  short video platform's operations in states. 

China's state-sponsored media Xinhua interviewed Cui Fan, a professor of international trade at University of International Business and Ecomics in Beijing who believed that changes in list could impact TikTok. "If ByteDance plans to export-related techlogies, it should go through licensing procedures,” he said to Xinhua.

China's new tech export controls add techlogies such as personal information push services, including those based on data analysis and artificial intelligence interactive interface techlogy to list. According to revised rules by China's Commerce Ministry, it would w take up to 30 days to obtain preliminary approval to export such techlogies to or countries, a move that is being seen as China's desperate attempts to put itself once again at helm of affairs.

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Read: Walmart Joins Hands With Microsoft In Bid To Buy TikTok; What's In It For Retailer?

Read: TikTok Denies Report Of Receiving A Bid From Centricus And Tiller Inc

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Walmart & Microsoft to partner up for TikTok?

Yesterday reports had revealed that retail giant Walmart expressed interest in joining hands with Microsoft to acquire Chinese app. TikTok has been caught in eye of a storm ever since US Government called it a potential national security threat, accusing it of leaking information to Chinese government.

US President Donald Trump in mid-August said that company has three months to divest itself of any assets used to support popular TikTok app in United States. Trump had ordered ByteDance, parent company of TikTok, to eir sell or spin off its American branch within 90 days. This occurred after Trump signed a separate executive order banning American transactions with WeChat and TikTok’s parent company ByteDance in 45 days.

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Read: Top Democrat Condemns Donald Trump's Remarks Over Potential TikTok Acquisition

Read: Auschwitz Museum Slams TikTok's 'Holocaust' Trend; Calls It 'hurtful & Offensive'

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(With ncy Inputs)

13:01 IST, August 30th 2020