The popular short-form video app TikTok, still under U.S. government scrutiny for its Chinese ownership, is moving closer to becoming a marketplace for buying stuff.
Canadian e-commerce platform Shopify said Tuesday it91裸聊视频檚 made a deal with TikTok enabling merchants to create 91裸聊视频渟hoppable91裸聊视频� video ads that drive customers to online stores.
The partnership was announced Tuesday amid stalled negotiations for Walmart to buy a 7.5% stake in the video app. Walmart91裸聊视频檚 planned investment is part of a government-forced deal that would rescue TikTok from a threatened ban by President Donald Trump and advance Walmart91裸聊视频檚 ambitions for the world of 91裸聊视频渟ocial commerce.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淚f you91裸聊视频檙e watching a TikTok video and somebody91裸聊视频檚 got a piece of apparel or an item on it that you really like, what if you could just quickly purchase that item?91裸聊视频� Walmart CEO Doug McMillon told CNBC earlier this month. 91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 what we91裸聊视频檙e seeing happen in countries around the world. And it91裸聊视频檚 intriguing to us, and we would like to be part of it.91裸聊视频�
ByteDance, the Beijing-based company that owns TikTok, already runs a thriving social media marketplace on Douyin, its twin video app for the Chinese market. Buying products through social media websites isn91裸聊视频檛 yet as common in the U.S., though Pinterest and Facebook-owned Instagram have made some inroads and TikTok last year began making it easier for businesses to link to themselves from the app.
Shopify said its merchants will be able to select which product they would like to promote. Then, video ads will be automatically generated that could show up in a TikTok user91裸聊视频檚 video feed and drive customers to Shopify for checkout.
TikTok said in a prepared statement Tuesday that Ottawa-based Shopify will be a 91裸聊视频減erfect partner to help us grow and expand our commerce capabilities globally.91裸聊视频�
It91裸聊视频檚 not clear what the partnership means for TikTok91裸聊视频檚 negotiations with Walmart. Walmart and Shopify are on good terms, having teamed up against Amazon in June on a deal that enables Shopify91裸聊视频檚 small businesses to get listed on Walmart.com.
Trump said over the summer he would shut down TikTok unless ByteDance sold its U.S. assets to an American company, citing concerns about the potential for the Chinese government to spy on users91裸聊视频� data.
ByteDance in September proposed to U.S. authorities a partnership with Walmart, California tech company Oracle and other American investors designed to relieve national security concerns about the app. Trump expressed support for the idea but officials haven91裸聊视频檛 formally approved it.
Trump91裸聊视频檚 attempt to ban TikTok was also delayed until after next week91裸聊视频檚 U.S. presidential election after the company sued in federal court to halt the order.
Matt O91裸聊视频橞rien, The Associated Press
