Trump Threatens Retaliation for Targeting US Tech

US President Donald Trump attacked countries he believes use digital market rules and taxes to discriminate against US technology companies. He has threatened additional tariffs and restricted access to chips and other innovations.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump accused unidentified countries of attacking US players while giving what he described as a complete pass to China’s largest technology businesses. Vowing to stand up for “incredible American Tech Companies,” Trump indicated that those with digital taxes, digital service legislation, and related market regulation that harm or discriminate against US technology companies will face consequences if they remain in place.

“I put all Countries with Digital Taxes, Legislation, Rules, or Regulations on notice that unless these discriminatory actions are removed, I, as President of the United States, will impose substantial additional Tariffs on that Country’s Exports to the USA”, he added. Trump also threatened to slap export restrictions on highly protected technology and chips to these nations.

Although he didn’t identify the countries with rules deemed to be discriminatory, a number have digital service and market regulation in place, including those in the EU and the UK. Legislation designed to curb the power of large digital technology companies has been a regular target of criticism from US authorities under the Trump administration, including from Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr, who slammed the EU’s Digital Services Act at MWC Barcelona.