Trump Threatens Tariffs on Nations Over Digital Taxes Targeting US Tech Giants
President Donald Trump has warned of imposing additional tariffs and export restrictions on countries that enact laws perceived to target US technology companies. The warning came in a statement posted on his Truth Social platform on Monday, where he criticized measures such as digital taxes and online market regulations, calling them discriminatory against American firms.
“Digital Taxes, Digital Services Legislation, and Digital Markets Regulations are all designed to harm, or discriminate against, American Technology,” Trump said. Although he did not name specific countries, his comments appeared aimed at European nations and other jurisdictions with stringent tech regulations.
The European Union has implemented rules such as the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and Digital Services Act (DSA), which govern competition and online content moderation. Similarly, the United Kingdom imposes a digital services tax, targeting global tech companies. Trump warned that unless these policies were removed, the US would respond with “substantial additional tariffs” and export restrictions on technology and chips.
This stance marks a continuation of Trump’s hardline trade policy since returning to office in January. In June, he halted trade negotiations with Canada in protest over its planned digital services tax, which would have impacted US tech giants like Alphabet, Amazon, and Meta. Canada later rescinded the tax after US pushback.
Trump’s trade strategy increasingly uses tariffs as leverage in global disputes. Earlier this month, he announced a doubling of tariffs on Indian imports over New Delhi’s purchase of Russian oil, citing its contribution to Moscow’s war in Ukraine. While steel, aluminum, and auto sectors have been hit with targeted duties, Trump’s latest threat signals escalating tension between the US and major economies over digital policy and tech dominance.
Source: The Guardian