- Title: Trump threatens everyone on every issue, says French senator
- Date: 11th July 2019
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (JULY 11, 2019) (REUTERS) HALL IN SENATE (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH SOCIALIST SENATOR AND SENATE VICE-PRESIDENT, DAVID ASSOULINE, SAYING: "When one is always threatening so much, that even his own marvelous soccer team which wins the World Cup doesn't want to go to the White House, shows that something's wrong and I hope that this country will turn to a lead
- Embargoed: 25th July 2019 13:33
- Keywords: digital giants GAFA Facebook French senate Google Bruno Le Maire Donald Trump Amazon Apple
- Location: PARIS, FRANCE & UNIDENTIFIED LOCATION
- City: PARIS, FRANCE & UNIDENTIFIED LOCATION
- Country: France
- Topics: Budget/Taxation/Revenue,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA004ANC545J
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: U.S. President Donald Trump "threatens everyone on every issue" said a French senator on Thursday (July 11) after Washington launched a probe into France's planned digital tax.
The French upper house gave final approval to a tax on big technology companies on Thursday, potentially opening up a new front in a trade row between Washington and the European Union.
The 3% levy will apply to revenue from digital services earned in France by firms with more than 25 million euros in French revenue and 750 million euros ($845 million) worldwide. It is due to kick in retroactively from the start of 2019.
President Donald Trump on Wednesday ordered an investigation into the tax, which could lead to the United States imposing new tariffs or other trade restrictions.
French Senator David Assouline criticized Trump over this latest spat.
Other EU countries including Austria, Britain, Spain and Italy have also announced plans for their own digital taxes.
They say a levy is needed because big, multinational internet companies such as Facebook and Amazon are currently able to book profits in low-tax countries like Ireland, no matter where the revenue originates.
Political pressure to respond has been growing as local retailers in high streets and online have been disadvantaged; French President Emmanuel Macron has said that taxing big tech more heavily is an issue of social justice. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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