France suggests targeting the use of Big Tech data in response to American prices – Politico

A spokesman for the French government already said last week that EU reprisals against American prices could include “digital services that are currently not taxed”.

This suggestion was fiercely rejected by Ireland, which houses the European headquarters of several American Big Tech companies.

The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, promised to respond to the Trump trade war.

Technology is considered a possible area for Europe to retaliate. The European Union has a trade surplus of 157 billion euros in goods, which means that it exports more than it is important, but it manages a deficit of 109 billion euros in service, including digital services.

The great giants of technology like Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Google and Meta dominate many market parts in Europe.

Lombard said on Friday that the trade war with Washington could prevent France from reducing its inflated budget deficit. “Tax revenues would probably fall, then GDP would fall compared to forecasts, which would worsen the deficit,” said Lombard in an interview with BFMTV / RMC.

French Prime Minister François Bayrou said on Sunday that Trump’s pricing assault would reduce France’s gross domestic product by more than 0.5 percentage points.

“The risk of job losses is absolutely major, just like that of an economic slowdown and an investment stop. The consequences will be important: Trump policies could cost us more than 0.5% of GDP,” said Bayrou in an interview with the Parisian.