Trump To Foreign Governments: Drop Taxes On Big Tech Or Face ‘Consequences’
President Donald Trump issued a stern warning Monday to foreign governments targeting American technology companies with digital taxes, vowing serious trade consequences if such measures are not reversed.
“Digital Taxes, Digital Services Legislation, and Digital Markets Regulations are all designed to harm, or discriminate against, American Technology,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “This must end, and end NOW!”
Without naming individual nations, Trump criticized countries that, he said, give Chinese tech firms “a complete pass” while unfairly targeting American companies like Amazon, Google, Apple, and Meta. He accused these countries of using digital taxation as a weapon against the U.S. economy and threatened immediate retaliation.
“Unless these discriminatory actions are removed,” Trump said, “I will impose substantial additional tariffs on that country’s exports to the U.S.A., and institute export restrictions on our highly protected technology and chips.”
Several countries have already adjusted course under pressure. Canada dropped its proposed Digital Services Tax in June during trade talks with Washington, and India quietly withdrew its 6% tax on digital advertising in April.
However, other nations—especially in Europe—are pressing ahead. France and Switzerland have implemented digital levies, and Belgium and the Netherlands are considering following suit. France currently taxes major digital firms 3% on revenue from digital services and advertising.
A trade agreement framework between the U.S. and the European Union included language against “unjustified digital trade barriers” and customs duties on electronic transmissions. However, it remains unclear if existing digital taxes will be reversed as part of that deal.
Trump emphasized that America’s days of being the “doormat” for global tech policy are over.
“America, and American Technology Companies, are neither the ‘piggy bank’ nor the ‘doormat’ of the World any longer,” he wrote. “Show respect to America and our amazing Tech Companies or, consider the consequences!”