Germany and France slam Trump’s tech threats as "coercion"
The post Germany and France slam Trump’s tech threats as "coercion" appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com. France and Germany on Friday backed Europe’s authority to set its own technology laws and warned that Brussels would answer in kind if Washington tried to force changes. Their stance came after U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday threatened extra tariffs on any country with digital taxes, laws or rules he argues discriminate against American tech firms. At a joint news conference, French President Emmanuel Macron dismissed the warning and said the EU would keep full control over how it writes its rules. “Tax and regulation issues are the preserve of our national parliaments and the European parliament,” Macron said. “We won’t let anyone else decide for us,” he added. He also noted that “should such measures be taken, it would qualify as coercion and prompt a response from the Europeans,” citing the EU’s anti-coercion instrument that allows penalties on states trying to strong-arm the bloc. Trump and his team have for years criticized two key EU laws. The Digital Markets Act, which targets gatekeeper power, and the Digital Services Act, which puts duties on big platforms to address illegal and harmful content. Standing with Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he had told Trump that EU digital oversight reflects the bloc’s sovereignty and is not subject to outside approval “We are doing this in our own interest and solely for our own interest, and we will certainly not be guided by statements that perhaps consider completely different, perhaps even no, regulation necessary,” Merz said as quoted by Reuters. EU officials warn of trade consequences The European Commission said this week that regulating economic activity lies with the EU and its member states. As Cryptopolitan reported it also pushed back on Trump’s claim that Brussels is singling out U.S. firms, stressing that the DMA and DSA cover any company operating…
The post Germany and France slam Trump’s tech threats as "coercion" appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com.
France and Germany on Friday backed Europe’s authority to set its own technology laws and warned that Brussels would answer in kind if Washington tried to force changes. Their stance came after U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday threatened extra tariffs on any country with digital taxes, laws or rules he argues discriminate against American tech firms. At a joint news conference, French President Emmanuel Macron dismissed the warning and said the EU would keep full control over how it writes its rules. “Tax and regulation issues are the preserve of our national parliaments and the European parliament,” Macron said. “We won’t let anyone else decide for us,” he added. He also noted that “should such measures be taken, it would qualify as coercion and prompt a response from the Europeans,” citing the EU’s anti-coercion instrument that allows penalties on states trying to strong-arm the bloc. Trump and his team have for years criticized two key EU laws. The Digital Markets Act, which targets gatekeeper power, and the Digital Services Act, which puts duties on big platforms to address illegal and harmful content. Standing with Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he had told Trump that EU digital oversight reflects the bloc’s sovereignty and is not subject to outside approval “We are doing this in our own interest and solely for our own interest, and we will certainly not be guided by statements that perhaps consider completely different, perhaps even no, regulation necessary,” Merz said as quoted by Reuters. EU officials warn of trade consequences The European Commission said this week that regulating economic activity lies with the EU and its member states. As Cryptopolitan reported it also pushed back on Trump’s claim that Brussels is singling out U.S. firms, stressing that the DMA and DSA cover any company operating…
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