Trump Slams EU for ’Unfair Treatment’ of US Corporations

Former President Donald Trump has reignited trade tensions by accusing the European Union of discriminatory practices against American businesses. The remarks come amid ongoing debates about global trade fairness—because nothing says ’free market’ like geopolitical saber-rattling over tariffs.

Trump has accused the EU of treating US companies unfairly

A German digital tax on US firms such as Google, Facebook, and Instagram could further strain transatlantic relations. US President Donald TRUMP has accused the European Union of treating American companies unfairly and has threatened tariffs in response.

Weimer said he is unfazed by such threats, noting that the government has already begun laying the legal foundation for the tariffs. He suggested that the tariff rate could focus on the German advertising revenue of digital platforms and that it might be set at 10 percent.

“We are preparing a concrete draft law,” he added. Weimer praised Austria’s model, which imposes a “simple and effective tax of five percent on online advertising services for very large platform operators.” He stressed that Germany could apply a higher rate, saying that twice the Austrian rate WOULD still be “moderate and legitimate.”

Several other EU countries, including France, already tax digital companies.

Germany’s media organisations broadly welcomed the plan. The Federal Association of Digital Publishers and Newspaper Publishers told the DPA news agency that they were pleased to see internet giants held accountable for their profits.

That group and the Media Association of the Free Press urged the government to direct any tax income to media outlets with editorial teams, warning that their own business models have suffered under the dominance of global tech platforms.

Weimer said the levy should apply to all tech platforms that generate “billions of revenue” in Germany and that rely on editorial or cultural content produced by others.

He pointed to Austria’s experience, noting that its online advertising tax did not lead to “significant price changes” but did mean corporations made a small tax contribution to society, slightly reducing their large profit margins.

Weimer said the government will hold further talks with industry representatives before finalizing the proposal.

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