logo
TikTok cuts more workers from US e-commerce division

TikTok cuts more workers from US e-commerce division

Business Times3 days ago
[TAIPEI] TikTok is cutting more workers from its US e-commerce division, TikTok Shop, the third round of layoffs for that team since April.
'As the TikTok Shop business evolves, we regularly review our operations to ensure long-term success,' a spokesperson for the video-sharing app said on Wednesday (Jul 2). 'We have made the difficult decision to adjust parts of our team to better align with strategic priorities.'
TikTok did not respond to the question of how many people are being cut.
TikTok Shop's US operations have undergone a series of changes in the past few months following a year in which the division fell short of internal sales targets. TikTok Shop eliminated some jobs in April and enacted a second round of cuts in May, Bloomberg previously reported.
The team has also been replacing US-hired staff near Seattle with managers connected to China – an effort to replicate the e-commerce success that parent company ByteDance has had in Asia.
Despite the changes, TikTok Shop has been the social media app's fastest-growing business, and a major focus for ByteDance globally. Last year, TikTok Shop opened in five new countries in Europe, including Germany and Spain.
TikTok's US future remains in limbo as the company faces a potential ban over national security concerns. Under a US law passed in 2024, Beijing-based ByteDance is required to divest TikTok to avoid being banned in the country.
US President Donald Trump, who has extended the deadline for a divestment to mid-September, has said he has a buyer lined up for the app, and just needs approval from the Chinese government for the sale. BLOOMBERG
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Japan tariff negotiator held in-depth talks with Lutnick, Japanese government says
Japan tariff negotiator held in-depth talks with Lutnick, Japanese government says

Straits Times

time5 hours ago

  • Straits Times

Japan tariff negotiator held in-depth talks with Lutnick, Japanese government says

Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox (From right) Japan's Economic Revitalisation Minister Ryosei Akazawa poses with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Washington on May 1. TOKYO/BRIDGEWATER, New Jersey - Japan's tariff negotiator Ryosei Akazawa held 'in-depth exchanges' over the phone with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on July 3 and July 5, the Japanese government said. A pause on a 24 per cent reciprocal tariff on imports from Japan expires on July 9, although US President Donald Trump has suggested the rate could be even higher. The Japanese government also said in a statement that it intends to continue actively coordinating with the US side on the matter, as it worked to avert higher tariffs. The White House declined to comment on the report, referring only to Mr Trump's recent comments on Japan. Mr Trump this week hammered Japan over what he said was Tokyo's reluctance to import US-grown rice, and accusing Japan of engaging in 'unfair' autos trade. Japan has in fact imported historically high volumes of US rice in recent months as domestically grown rice has skyrocketed in price since last year. It was unclear if Mr Trump would make good his pledge to skip further trade negotiations with Japan and send it a letter with a specific tariff rate, on top of the 10 per cent already in effect on most trading partners. On July 4 he said he had signed letters to 12 countries and they would be going out on July 7, but did not identify them. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Asean needs 'bolder reforms' to attract investments in more fragmented global economy: PM Wong Singapore CPF members can make housing, retirement and health insurance plans with new digital platform Singapore CPF's central philosophy of self-reliance remains as pertinent as ever: SM Lee Singapore Credit reports among personal data of 190,000 breached, put for sale on Dark Web; IT vendor fined Asia Dalai Lama hopes to live beyond 130 years, much longer than predicted Singapore Tan Cheng Bock, Hazel Poa step down from PSP leadership; party launches 'renewal plan' Sport Liverpool will move on after Jota's tragic death, but he will never be forgotten Singapore Rock climbing fan suddenly could not jump, get up from squats He expressed doubt that a deal could be reached with Japan on July 8, and suggested he could impose a tariff of 30 per cent or 35 per cent on imports from Japan - well above the 24 per cent tariff rate he announced on April 2. Japanese Prime Minster Shigeru Ishiba on July 2 said he was determined to protect his country's national interests as trade negotiations with the US struggled, noting that his country was the largest investor in the United States. Tokyo has yet to secure a trade deal after nearly three months of negotiations as it scrambles to find ways to get Washington to exempt Japan's automakers from 25 per cent automobile industry-specific tariffs, which are hurting the country's manufacturing sector. REUTERS

It's a hard slog for Gen Z job seekers. They can do without the derision
It's a hard slog for Gen Z job seekers. They can do without the derision

Straits Times

time5 hours ago

  • Straits Times

It's a hard slog for Gen Z job seekers. They can do without the derision

Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Landing a job has never been tougher for fresh grads. They are up against forces that earlier generations never faced. The latest Joint Graduate Employment Survey for the 2024 cohort showed that 12.9 per cent of graduates were still looking for work six months after graduation. SINGAPORE - The tough job market facing Generation Z has been in the news in recent months, with data and reports painting a bleak picture. But it was a TikTok video a colleague sent me earlier this past week that put a human face to the story.

China's first Legoland opens to tourists in Shanghai
China's first Legoland opens to tourists in Shanghai

CNA

time14 hours ago

  • CNA

China's first Legoland opens to tourists in Shanghai

SHANGHAI: Thousands of local tourists poured into China's first Legoland as it opened its gates in Shanghai on Saturday (Jul 5), the latest theme park hoping to capitalise on a domestic tourism boom. The Chinese branch of the British-owned theme park franchise is the biggest Legoland in the world. It drew in early customers who flocked to attractions including a miniature train ride and a dragon-themed rollercoaster. "I personally love to play with Lego blocks and we have many sets at home ... so I wanted to come to Legoland at the earliest opportunity," said Shi, a 35-year-old resident of nearby city Hangzhou, who was visiting the park with his wife and child. Despite the Chinese economy's sluggish growth in recent years, domestic tourist spending grew 18.6 per cent in the first quarter of this year compared to the previous year, according to statistics. "Ever since the pandemic, I've made very few trips abroad," said Shi, adding his family now travels to theme parks around China "many times a year". Eager Lego fans rushed into the park as soon as it opened, wearing themed shirts and waving branded flags as they enjoyed the 318,000 sq m compound in scorching temperatures. Beijing has announced subsidies intended to make travelling within the country more affordable for Chinese citizens, and is pushing local governments to heavily market their attractions on social media. Companies have taken note of the wider local tourism boom and stepped up their plans in China. A new "Spider-Man" attraction at Shanghai Disneyland broke ground in May, while Warner Brothers is set to open a Harry Potter experience in Shanghai by 2027. Toy giant Hasbro said this week its giant Peppa Pig park in the city was now "in the phase of creative design". Chinese collectable toy maker Pop Mart has also opened an attraction in Beijing featuring life-sized versions of its popular Labubu toys. "The various provinces are putting a lot of effort into expanding their tourism industries, and all of them have special attractions," said Xu, a 34-year-old parent visiting Legoland on Saturday with his children. But profitability remains a problem, especially for local companies with less brand recognition. As of late 2024, around 40 per cent of parks were still failing to turn a profit, according to state media reports. Yet analysts point to a growing population of retirees and job market changes as key factors pushing more locals to visit domestic attractions. "The labour market is turning more flexible," said Ernan Cui, China consumer analyst at Gavekal Research.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store