The president postponed what appeared to be a looming clash on trade and expressed a willingness to talk business, but he remains critical of Beijing.

Whether it is over TikTok, fentanyl or trade, Beijing might welcome a compromise to buy time to address its ailing economy and bolster its position globally.

The President, who has suggested that the U.S. take on 50 percent ownership of TikTok, hinted that potential tariffs on China will be closely linked to whether such a joint venture is approved. “If China didn’t approve it,