(Reuters) -Private equity giant Blackstone has withdrawn from a consortium seeking to invest in TikTok’s U.S. operations, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Friday. The latest change came as uncertainty has mounted and there have been several delays in the TikTok deal now at the center of U.S.-China trade talks.

BlackRock (BLK) exits consortium bidding for TikTok U.S. after a Congress-mandated push for its Chinese owner ByteDance (BDNCE) to complete divestment. Read more here.

Private equity firm Blackstone Inc. has pulled out of a group of investors seeking to take a minority stake in TikTok’s US-based business, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Blackstone emerged as a front-runner in a deal created by President Trump after the company considered to take a minority stake.

The firm’s withdrawal, however, comes at a time when the TikTok US deal has become a key issue in trade talks between Washington and Beijing. Since discussions began, the deal, however, has been plagued by several delays.

Private equity giant Blackstone (NYSE:BX) has withdrawn from a consortium bidding for TikToks U.S. operations, according to a Reuters source. The exit comes as ongoing delays and rising uncertainty cloud the future