Editorial Board

France’s Tech Tax Is Wrong. So Is Trump’s Response.

A bit of misguided protectionism could spiral into a dangerous confrontation.

July 19, 2019 at 4:30 AM UTC

By The Editorial Board

The Editorial Board publishes the views of the editors across a range of national and global affairs.

Not so just, in fact.
Photographer: Boris Horvat/AFP/Getty Images

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Fed up with big technology multinationals, most of which just happen to be American, France wants to tax them more heavily.

Last week, French lawmakers passed a measure that would impose a tax of up to 5 percent on digital companies with annual global revenue of more than $845 million and local revenue of more than $28 million. “When France shows its will, that’s when things change,” Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire has said, with Gallic modesty. Unfortunately, things aren’t changing for the better.