The news: China reiterated that it will not sell TikTok’s algorithm to the US in accordance with Chinese laws as the September 17 sale deadline looms.

The announcement comes almost immediately after the White House launched an official TikTok account in a move Chinese officials stated “contradicts the ‘national security threat’ rhetoric that claims…the app could be used to influence US citizens,” per state-media publication China Daily.

Zooming out: While an outright ban might be unlikely given the administration’s previous willingness to extend the app’s sales deadline, the two parties seem to be at a stalemate.

China’s commitment to not selling TikTok’s popular algorithm comes on the heels of US officials stating that a full ban will take place if a deal isn’t reached by September amid the ongoing US-China trade war.

A codependent relationship: The lack of any notable progress in a TikTok sale poses threats to both the app and the US brands and creators who rely on it.