Moscow says Washington is trying to give American businesses an edge by banning transactions with ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns TikTok.

"The unfounded ban that prevents US citizens from trading with ByteDance, the owner of TikTok, amid the app's push to sell to American corporations, is another clear example of unfair competition.

Ms. Zakharova said that the ban would violate "a series of international Washington commitments to ensure access to a free and diversified media network, freedom to choose sources of information and to promote related cooperation.

The Russian spokesperson added that the US decision also does not comply with the standards and guidelines for free competition in the market of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

President Donald Trump on August 6 signed a decree banning all individuals and organizations in the US from trading with ByteDance and Tencent, the owners of TikTok and WeChat, into effect 45 days later.

Previously, the White House boss stated that TikTok had 45 days to reach a divestment agreement, asking ByteDance to sell TikTok shares and operations in the US to Microsoft or a certain US company, otherwise this social network will

Following Trump's decree, Beijing accused Washington of "frequently abusing national power and unreasonably suppressing non-American companies".

Meanwhile, Ms. Zakharova urged Washington to "reconsider how to maintain a monopoly on US technology giants in the international social networking space", ensuring their methods are consistent with "prices.

TikTok currently has about a billion users around the world.

However, TikTok and ByteDance denied any contact with the Chinese authorities.