Defending American Companies from Overseas Extortion, Fines, & Penalties

whitehouse.gov

5 points·naryJane··6 comments

Obviously this is targeted at the digital services taxes and regulations imposed by Canada and the EU, but I'm very curious about how these clauses might be handled with regards to China:

(b) regulations imposed on United States companies by foreign governments that could inhibit the growth or intended operation of United States companies;

(c) any act, policy, or practice of a foreign government that could require a United States company to jeopardize its intellectual property

VAT was introduced in Europe in the 1970s. So this is basically defending American companies against the tax status quo of the last 40 years.

You think this isn't a known quantity trading as American companies into VAT and similar goods and services consumption tax economies?

You think this doesn't beg questions about individual state sales taxes?

Excluding digital services and "goods" from tax was an anomaly. Not the new normal.

How odd that Trump is also illegally "suspending" the laws Congress passed against international bribery.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/10/trump-order-...

That was my first thought as well. If there's a US law against bribes, companies can, when a bribe is asked for or hinted at, just say they can't. Saves money, except if maybe you've issued your own cryptocurrency, and are possibly wanting to be bribed.

Overseas countries protecting their citizens from extortion and enshittification by American big tech companies.

We are just applying the same consumption taxes we have applied to other goods and services for decades. It isn't about targeting American companies at all but comments like yours fuel the perception that it is, which is where this all comes from.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com