TRUMP CRACKS DOWN

President Trump on Tuesday issued an executive order banning transactions with eight Chinese apps, citing concerns about data privacy.

The order, which goes into effect in 45 days, prohibits transactions with Alipay, CamScanner, QQ Wallet, SHAREit, Tencent QQ, VMate, WeChat Pay, and WPS Office. The order builds on previous efforts by Trump to outlaw the use of WeChat and TikTok on similar grounds.

Trump had previously issued an executive order banning transactions with ByteDance, the parent company of the popular app TikTok, but the ban has yet to go into effect after it was stalled in court.

In response to Trump’s Tuesday order, China’s foreign ministry fired back accusing the U.S. of “bullying in its move to ban transactions with the apps owned by Chinese firms.