Trump threatens tariffs and export controls over digital taxes

President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to impose substantial additional tariffs and export restrictions on countries that impose digital taxes or similar regulations on American tech firms, arguing that such measures are designed to harm U.S. technology companies and discriminate against them. The warning appeared in a post on Truth Social, in which he said he would act unless those discriminatory actions were repealed, and that American technology and semiconductors should be protected from what he described as an unfair playing field.

In the message, Trump said he would “impose substantial additional Tariffs on that Country’s Exports to the U.S.A., and institute Export restrictions on our Highly Protected Technology and Chips” if other nations do not withdraw digital taxes or similar rules. He characterized the taxes as discriminatory against American technology and as giving a “complete pass” to firms from China. He added a blunt directive: “Show respect to America and our amazing Tech Companies or, consider the consequences.”

The escalation comes amid a wider, ongoing dispute over digital services taxes and related regulatory frameworks that several countries have...