TikTok is set to enter the online shopping market in Japan in the coming months, according to a report by the Nikkei newspaper.
The company is preparing to recruit sellers for its TikTok Shop platform in Japan, where users will be able to run livestreams to sell products ranging from sneakers to cosmetics, earning commissions on sales. TikTok Shop is widely known for offering discounted products.
The move comes as TikTok seeks to expand internationally, especially outside the U.S., where its future remains uncertain. In March, TikTok Shop launched in France, Germany, and Italy, further strengthening its presence in Europe.
Meanwhile, TikTok’s fate in the U.S. remains in limbo:
- President Donald Trump recently suggested a deal regarding TikTok’s operations may be delayed.
- Trump also hinted at an easing of U.S.-China trade tensions, which had previously rocked global markets.
- The uncertainty follows a 2024 U.S. law requiring ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, to divest its U.S. operations by January 19, 2025.
TikTok has yet to officially comment on its Japan plans.