Donald Trump threatens 100% tariffs on European nations adopting digital services taxes
On June 26, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump used his Truth Social platform to declare that any country that implements a digital services tax (DST) on American technology firms will face an immediate 100 % tariff on all goods exported to the United States. He wrote, “any Country that imposes such a Tax will immediately be met with a 100% TARIFF on any and all Goods sent to the United States of America,” and added that the tariff would supersede any existing trade agreements, including the recently concluded U.S.–EU deal that caps American duties on European imports at 15 %.
The threat targets European states that are debating or have introduced DSTs, such as France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain and others. France’s 3 % levy on large digital firms has already drawn Trump’s ire, with the president warning of a 100 % tariff on French wine if the tax is not repealed. The European Commission responded that it would “react swiftly and decisively” to any unilateral measures, and officials in several EU countries reiterated that DSTs are meant to ensure fair taxation of multinational tech companies.
Trump’s warning follows a pattern of aggressive U.S. trade actions since his return to office in 2025, including previous tariffs on countries perceived to discriminate against U.S. tech firms. The announcement comes a day after EU member states met the July 4 deadline set by Washington to reduce tariffs on U.S. goods, raising concerns of a new escalation in trans‑Atlantic trade tensions.