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US-EU Trade War Averted as France Concedes on Digital Services Tax

US-EU Trade War Averted as France Concedes on Digital Services Tax

US-EU Trade Talking Points:

  • US and France have reached a ceasefire agreement regarding France’s digital services tax and the threat of retaliatory tariffs from the US
  • The threat of a full-blown trade war looms between the EU and US as both countries negotiate trade terms across several areas outside of the digital services tax
  • Trump says auto tariff deadline approaches for EU, but expects to be able to make a deal

A temporary truce between the United States and France was reached Monday over France’s digital services tax and possible retaliatory tariffs from the US. The ceasefire on tariffs will continue until the end of the year according to a French ministry of finance official. French President Macron stated on Twitter yesterday that his discussion with President Trump was great and they will be working together to reach a deal and avoid escalation of tariffs. The Euro saw a spat of strength as news of the ceasefire crossed the wires but surrendered those gains into Tuesday trading.

EURUSD 15-Min Price Chart

The Trump administration was threatening tariffs up to 100 percent on $2.4 billion of French imports. This comes after France passed a digital services tax law last year aiming to impose a 3 percent levy on gross revenue generated from companies providing services in France. The move would overwhelmingly impact US companies like Google and Amazon, while having a minimal impact to France with their smaller footprint of digital services companies.

US Balance of Trade

Source: Bloomberg

Many worried that Frances digital tax law could ignite an already growing concern over a costly trade war between the United States and the EU at a time when global growth is slowing, partially due to the ongoing trade war between the US and China. However, a full-blown trade war between the US and EU would likely have an even larger impact to global trade with the European Union ranking above China as a trade market for the US.

US Imports

Source: Bloomberg

France along with other European Union countries have been searching for ways to generate more tax revenue in recent years as growth slows and corporate tax revenues continue to decline. A report from the US Trade Representative office found that France specifically aimed to target US companies, noting that French officials refereed to the tax as the “GAFA tax”, abbreviated for Google, Apple, Facebook, and Amazon. The USTR also noted that the DST implements several tax provisions that are not inline with the OECD model tax convention on income and capital, along with several other international tax regulations.

France Corporate Tax Revenue

Source: Bloomberg

Tensions between the US and EU have already come under pressure in the past year as President Trump aims to reduce US trade deficits with its main trading partners. The US went ahead with placing tariffs of $7.5 billion on EU exports after a WTO ruling found the EU was illegal subsidizing the unions largest aircraft maker Airbus. Since then President Trump has also threatened the EU with auto tariffs but stated at the economic forum in Davos that “We expect to be able to make a deal with Europe.” Trump has a deadline imposed for auto tariffs but did not comment on an expiration, only saying it would soon become public.

--Written by Thomas Westwater, Intern Analyst for DailyFX.com

Contact and follow Thomas on Twitter @FxWestwater

DailyFX provides forex news and technical analysis on the trends that influence the global currency markets.

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