Trump tariff threat to nations that 'discriminate against US tech firms'

Donald Trump has threatened to impose tariffs and export restrictions on countries that target US big tech companies such as Google, Meta, Amazon and Apple.

- Mark Sweney

"Digital taxes, legislation, rules or regulations are all designed to harm, or discriminate against, American technology," the US president said in a post on his Truth Social social media platform. He said such measures - which include the UK's digital services tax (DST) - also "outrageously give a complete pass to China's largest tech companies".

Trump said: "As the president of the United States, I will stand up to countries that attack our incredible American tech companies. 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, and institute export restrictions on our highly protected technology and chips."