(UTV|COLOMBO) – US President Donald Trump has ordered an investigation into France’s planned tax on tech giants – a move that could result in retaliatory tariffs.
“The United States is very concerned that the digital services tax… unfairly targets American companies,” the US trade representative said.
The French parliament is expected to approve the new tax on Thursday.
It will target firms such as Google and Facebook with a 3% levy on revenue made inside France.
The tax is expected to raise about €400m ($450m; £360m) this year.
Any digital company with revenue of more than €750m – of which at least €25m is generated in France – would be subject to the tax.
What has the US said?
“[Mr Trump] has directed that we investigate the effects of this legislation and determine whether it is discriminatory or unreasonable and burdens or restricts United States commerce,” the statement from trade representative Robert Lighthizer said.
The US inquiry could pave the way for punitive tariffs, which Mr Trump has imposed on several occasions since taking office.
Previous investigations launched by Washington have covered European Union and Chinese trade practices.
The latest inquiry was welcomed by Republican Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley and Senator Ron Wyden, the senior Democrat on the panel.
“The digital services tax that France and other European countries are pursuing is clearly protectionist and unfairly targets American companies in a way that will cost US jobs and harm American workers,” they said in a joint statement. (BBC)
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