A deal to spin off TikTok's U.S. operations into a U.S.-based firm was paused after China responded to Trump's announcements of tariffs on China. Trump's comments could add clarity to the future of the app in the United States.

(Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday he will start talking to China on Monday or Tuesday about a possible TikTok deal. He said the United States "pretty much" has a deal on the sale of the TikTok short-video app.

China’s government on Monday sidestepped a question on US President Donald Trump’s recent claim that he “pretty much” has a deal with Beijing to bring TikTok into American ownership and that talks with China over the popular short-video app could begin early this week.

Trump's top trade advisers say they are putting maximum pressure on other countries to make trade deals with the U.S. before Wednesday, when a 90-day pause on Trump's "reciprocal tariffs" is set to expire. Trump's steep levies on dozens of countries were announced on April 2 but were suspended soon after.

President Donald Trump on Monday placed a 25% tax on goods imported from Japan and South Korea, citing persistent trade imbalances with the two crucial U.S. allies in Asia

The world economy, beset with uncertainty for three months over Donald Trump’s on-again-off-again tariffs, is about to get more clarity as the US president’s deadline for trade deals arrives on Wednesday.