Trump: 100% tariffs on goods from countries that impose a tax on digital services
The European Union, the main target of the US threat, was quick to respond: ‘The EU and its Member States have the sovereign right to regulate economic activities within their own territories’
Donald Trump is threatening to impose 100% tariffs on countries that introduce a digital tax on US companies. “A number of European countries are discussing the imminent introduction of a digital services tax on American companies. Some of these countries are now on the verge of making such a decision. This statement serves to make it clear that any country that imposes such a tax will immediately face a 100 per cent tariff on all goods exported to the United States of America,” the US president warns on Truth. “These tariffs will take precedence over any trade agreement entered into with the country in question, regardless of whether it has been implemented or merely signed. Furthermore, should they proceed, the 100 per cent tariff will be applied with immediate effect,” adds Trump.
Trump had already promised retaliation against countries that impose taxes on digital services, arguing that these unfairly target US tech giants. Last year, the US president threatened to halt all trade negotiations with Canada over a proposal for a similar tax. Ottawa subsequently withdrew the tax shortly before it was due to come into force. These taxes are generally structured to apply only to the world’s largest and most established technology companies, such as Meta, Alphabet and Amazon, which are US-based firms.
The European response was not long in coming, delivered by a Commission spokesperson, who stated that the EU and its Member States ‘have the sovereign right to regulate economic activities within their own territory, in line with our democratic values and international commitments. Taxes are, by their very nature, non-discriminatory and apply equally to all large companies, regardless of their origin’. ‘Unilateral measures directed against such legitimate policies are unjustified. If adopted, the EU will respond swiftly and decisively,’ warned the European official.
Trump’s other fronts
Also today, the US President condemned the violation of the ceasefire by Tehran: ‘Iran launched at least four one-way attack drones against ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. One of the drones struck the upper deck of a large and extremely expensive cargo ship. Damage was reported, but the ship was able to continue its journey. We shot down three other drones. This is, of course, a reckless breach of our ceasefire agreement,” wrote Trump.
Finally, again on his social media account, the US President, the day after a favourable ruling by the Supreme Court, boasted about his record figures for migrant arrests and deportations. ‘The Trump administration has, by far, the highest average daily rate of arrests by ICE and border police compared to any other! The enforcement of final deportation orders is suffering serious delays at the hands of the courts, but even this is a record,’ wrote the US President. “Trump holds the absolute record for the highest number of deportations over a 12-month period, clearly surpassing every other president. Similarly, the daily average of detentions and deportations is, by far, the highest under President Trump,” insists the tycoon, whilst attacking his critics.
