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(CNN Business) -
The United States Department of Commerce will ban downloads and access to TikTok and WeChat starting this Sunday.
This is because two decrees of the Trump administration against the two applications will go into effect.
The Commerce Department said on Friday that as of Sunday, September 20, any measure to distribute or maintain WeChat or TikTok in an app store will be prohibited.
Apple and Google did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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While users who have already downloaded the apps can continue to use the software, the restrictions mean that updated versions of TikTok or WeChat cannot be downloaded.
"The only real change from Sunday night will be that [TikTok users] will not have access to enhanced apps, updated apps, upgraded apps, or maintenance," Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said Friday morning at Fox. Business.
Restrictions for TikTok and WeChat
The restrictions directed at WeChat are more extensive.
Starting Sunday, it will be illegal to host or transfer internet traffic associated with WeChat, the department said in a statement.
The same will be true for TikTok starting November 12, he said.
(The Trump administration is currently weighing a proposal involving ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese parent company, and Oracle, designed to address the administration's national security concerns related to TikTok; the deadline for a deal is November 12. )
TikTok and Tencent, owner of WeChat, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
More restrictions could be announced later, even against other applications if they are seen as being used as workarounds.
In previous court filings, the US government suggested that the restrictions on TikTok and WeChat would be limited in scope and not aimed at harming TikTok consumers or employees in the country.
TikTok employees will still be able to receive wages and benefits and perform their day jobs without conflicting with the ban.
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A "national security" issue, according to Trump
In a separate filing on September 15, the US government warned that communication via WeChat could be "affected" as a result of future policies, but that "users will not be attacked or subject to sanctions."
"Today's actions demonstrate once again that President Trump will do everything in his power to ensure our national security and protect Americans from threats from the Chinese Communist Party," Ross said.
"Under the leadership of the President, we have taken significant steps to combat China's malicious collection of personal data of US citizens, while promoting our national values, rule-based democratic norms, and aggressive enforcement of US laws and regulations." added the United States Secretary of Commerce.
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