1 month ago
Donald Trump has threatened to enforce tariffs connected nan UK if it does not driblet its integer services taxation connected US societal media firms.
The integer services tax, introduced successful 2020, imposes a 2% levy connected nan revenues of respective awesome US tech companies.
Speaking to reporters from nan Oval Office connected Thursday, nan US president said: “We’ve been looking astatine it and we tin meet that very easy by conscionable putting a large tariff connected nan UK, truthful they amended beryllium careful.
“If they don’t driblet nan tax, we’ll astir apt put a large tariff connected nan UK.”
The taxation targets companies whose worldwide revenues from integer activities transcend £500m ($673m), pinch much than £25m of nan revenues from UK users.
Trump based on nan laws, which person agelong been a root of hostility successful US-UK relations, targeted “top companies successful nan world”.
“The UK did it, a mates of different group did it,” he said. “They deliberation they’re going to make an easy buck, that’s why they’ve each taken advantage of our country.”
The integer services taxation went unchanged nether nan UK-US waste and acquisition woody agreed successful May 2025, contempt being a constituent of discussion.
Asked really precocious nan tariff would be, nan president said it would beryllium “more than what they’re getting” from nan levy. “What we’ll do is we’ll reciprocate by putting thing connected that’s adjacent aliases greater than what they’re doing,” he said.
The latest remarks adhd to wider strains successful US-UK relations, which person deteriorated aft Sir Keir Starmer ruled retired UK engagement successful nan conflict successful nan Middle East.
Earlier this month, Trump suggested nan position of nan UK-US waste and acquisition statement brokered past twelvemonth “can ever beryllium changed” successful an question and reply pinch Sky News.
Trump’s comments travel months aft akin US threats to enforce caller tariffs and export controls connected countries pinch integer taxes aliases regulations affecting American tech giants. A number of European countries, for illustration France, Italy and Spain, person a integer services tax.
In a station connected Truth Social from August 2025, Trump said he would “stand up to countries that onslaught our unthinkable American tech companies”.
“Digital taxes, integer services legislation, and integer markets regulations are each designed to harm, aliases discriminate against, American technology,” he wrote.
“This must end,” he said and vowed that “unless these discriminatory actions are removed”, he would “impose important further tariffs” connected nan offending nation’s exports to nan US.
Downing Street has been contacted for comment.
