Apple Faces Margin Pressure as Memory Chip Prices Surge Amid AI Boom 
Philippine Economy Slows in Late 2025, Raising Expectations of Further Rate Cuts 
CSPC Pharma and AstraZeneca Forge Multibillion-Dollar Partnership to Develop Long-Acting Peptide Drugs 
Elon Musk’s Empire: SpaceX, Tesla, and xAI Merger Talks Spark Investor Debate 
India Budget 2026: Modi Government Eyes Reforms Amid Global Uncertainty and Fiscal Pressures 
U.S. Dollar Slides for Second Week as Tariff Threats and Iran Tensions Shake Markets 
Sandisk Stock Soars After Blowout Earnings and AI-Driven Outlook 
SpaceX Seeks FCC Approval for Massive Solar-Powered Satellite Network to Support AI Data Centers 
Chinalco and Rio Tinto Acquire Controlling Stake in Brazil’s CBA for $903 Million 
Trump Threatens 50% Tariff on Canadian Aircraft Amid Escalating U.S.-Canada Trade Dispute 
Dollar Struggles as Policy Uncertainty Weighs on Markets Despite Official Support 
China Factory Activity Slips in January as Weak Demand Weighs on Growth Outlook 
Oil Prices Hit Four-Month High as Geopolitical Risks and Supply Disruptions Intensify 
US Judge Rejects $2.36B Penalty Bid Against Google in Privacy Data Case 
Nvidia Confirms Major OpenAI Investment Amid AI Funding Race 
SpaceX Updates Starlink Privacy Policy to Allow AI Training as xAI Merger Talks and IPO Loom 
Saks Global to End Saks on Amazon Partnership Amid Bankruptcy Restructuring 
TikTok Shop, the e-commerce arm of the popular short-video platform, reported a significant surge in U.S. spending this holiday shopping season, capturing critical market share. Despite the potential threat of a ban, the platform has cemented its position as a formidable competitor to giants like Amazon and emerging rivals such as Shein and Temu.
TikTok Shop Surpasses Rivals
In its first full holiday season since launching in the U.S. in September 2023, TikTok Shop achieved impressive milestones. The platform announced $100 million in Black Friday sales, leveraging its vast user base of 170 million Americans. Although Reuters could not independently verify these figures, third-party data from Facteus suggests U.S. spending on TikTok Shop exceeded that on Shein and Temu in the week leading up to Cyber Monday.
Capitalizing on TikTok’s algorithm, which curates tailored content for users, the e-commerce platform enables merchants to promote products through ads and influencer partnerships. Marketing agency Hawke Media highlighted the platform’s success, with CEO Erik Huberman noting, “TikTok Shop is a new distribution channel and brands are doing really well on it.”
Challenges Loom as Ban Threatens Operations
While TikTok Shop flourishes, its parent company, ByteDance, faces mounting pressure from U.S. regulators. A federal appeals court recently upheld a law requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok in the U.S. by early 2025 or risk a ban.
Industry experts warn that a ban could significantly impact TikTok Shop’s growing e-commerce presence. Merchants and influencers would lose access to a lucrative platform that has proven successful in targeting younger consumers.
For shoppers like Jasmine Whaley, 31, of York, Pennsylvania, TikTok Shop offers a seamless experience with fast delivery and curated product recommendations. “It’s cracked the code,” she said, noting quicker delivery times than Amazon.
TikTok Shop also features “LIVE” shopping sessions, where users can purchase items directly during live-stream events. According to TikTok Shop’s U.S. Operations Head Nico Le Bourgeois, the number of live sessions has nearly tripled in the past year, signaling robust growth in this interactive sales channel.
