Germany and France Reject Trump’s Tech Tariff Threats, Assert EU Sovereignty

European leaders have firmly rejected U.S. President Donald Trump's threats to impose tariffs on countries with digital tax policies targeting American tech firms. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz jointly dismissed the warnings, framing the EU's regulatory autonomy as non-negotiable.

"Tax and regulation issues are the preserve of our national parliaments and the European parliament," Macron declared at a press conference. He invoked the EU's anti-coercion instrument, signaling potential retaliatory measures if the U.S. follows through on its threats.

The dispute centers on two landmark EU laws: the Digital Markets Act, which curbs gatekeeper power, and the Digital Services Act, which holds platforms accountable for illegal content. Merz emphasized that EU digital oversight reflects "the bloc's sovereignty" rather than requiring external approval.