Donald Trump has announced his readiness to impose 100 per cent tariffs on imports from European countries that introduce a digital tax on American IT companies. This could lead to a new wave of trade tensions between the US and the EU.
- Trump has threatened to impose 100% tariffs on countries that introduce a digital tax.
- The restrictions may affect EU member states and the UK.
- A digital tax is already in force in France, Spain, Italy and the UK.
- The European Commission is ready to respond swiftly to threats from the US.
- Trump emphasised that tariffs take precedence over existing agreements.
Trump is putting European countries at risk
President of the United States Donald Trump in his post on the platform Truth Social stated that he was prepared to impose 100 per cent tariffs on imports of goods from any European country that introduces or maintains a digital services tax on American technology companies. According to him, countries that introduce such a tax will immediately face tariffs that will take precedence over any existing trade agreements.
These threats could mark a new phase in the trade dispute between the US and the European Union. Trump emphasises that the digital tax, which is already in force in France, Spain, Italy and the UK, is unfair to American IT giants.
The European Union’s response
The European Commission has already responded to these threats. A spokesperson for the European Commission Olof Hill He emphasised that the digital tax is not directed against companies from any particular country, but applies to all large digital corporations regardless of their origin. The EU reserves the right to respond swiftly to any trade restrictions imposed by the US.
Why it matters
If the Trump administration follows through on its threats, this could trigger a new round of the trade war between the US and the EU. The introduction of 100 per cent tariffs would have a significant impact on bilateral trade, increasing costs for businesses and consumers. It would also intensify disputes over the taxation of global technology companies, such as Apple, Google, Meta, Amazon and Microsoft.
