HONG KONG, Sept 19 (SCMP): The United States Commerce Department issued a sweeping order barring the downloading by US users of TikTok and WeChat to go into effect on September 20. The order also barred the payment and fund transfers to or from people in the US. The order does not ban US companies from doing business on WeChat outside the US nor does it bar transaction with Tencent’s other businesses.
With the date of a proposed US ban on Chinese social apps TikTok and WeChat rapidly approaching and prior to this order, it looked like WeChat was being given an easier ride by the Trump administration.