ggm 13 hours ago

VAT was introduced in Europe in the 1970s. So this is basically defending American companies against the tax status quo of the last 40 years.

You think this isn't a known quantity trading as American companies into VAT and similar goods and services consumption tax economies?

You think this doesn't beg questions about individual state sales taxes?

Excluding digital services and "goods" from tax was an anomaly. Not the new normal.

mitthrowaway2 14 hours ago

Obviously this is targeted at the digital services taxes and regulations imposed by Canada and the EU, but I'm very curious about how these clauses might be handled with regards to China:

(b) regulations imposed on United States companies by foreign governments that could inhibit the growth or intended operation of United States companies;

(c) any act, policy, or practice of a foreign government that could require a United States company to jeopardize its intellectual property

Terr_ 14 hours ago

How odd that Trump is also illegally "suspending" the laws Congress passed against international bribery.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/10/trump-order-...

  • bediger4000 12 hours ago

    That was my first thought as well. If there's a US law against bribes, companies can, when a bribe is asked for or hinted at, just say they can't. Saves money, except if maybe you've issued your own cryptocurrency, and are possibly wanting to be bribed.

reify 15 hours ago

Overseas countries protecting their citizens from extortion and enshittification by American big tech companies.

  • milesrout 9 hours ago

    We are just applying the same consumption taxes we have applied to other goods and services for decades. It isn't about targeting American companies at all but comments like yours fuel the perception that it is, which is where this all comes from.