Fact Check: Trump labels Canada's tech tax a 'direct and blatant attack' on the US
What We Know
In recent statements, former President Donald Trump expressed strong opposition to Canada's planned Digital Services Tax (DST), which was set to impose a 3% levy on revenues generated by large tech companies from Canadian users. Trump characterized this tax as “a direct and blatant attack” on the United States, leading him to terminate ongoing trade discussions with Canada (Politico, Time). The tax was scheduled to take effect on June 30, 2023, and Trump argued that it would unfairly target American companies, as approximately 90% of the revenue collected would come from U.S. firms (Time).
In response to the backlash, Canada announced it would rescind the tax to facilitate the resumption of trade talks with the U.S. (Yahoo Finance). This decision came after Trump publicly criticized the tax and threatened to impose tariffs on Canadian goods if the tax proceeded (Politico).
Analysis
The claim that Trump labeled Canada's tech tax a "direct and blatant attack" on the U.S. is substantiated by multiple credible sources. Trump's comments were made in a post on Truth Social, where he expressed his frustration with Canada's tax policy and its implications for U.S.-Canada trade relations (Politico, Yahoo Finance).
The reliability of these sources is high, as they include established news organizations known for political reporting, such as Politico and Time. Both outlets provide context regarding the trade tensions between the U.S. and Canada, illustrating how the tax issue has escalated into a broader conflict over trade practices and tariffs.
Furthermore, Trump's characterization of the tax aligns with his administration's historical stance against what he termed "non-tariff barriers," which he often argued were detrimental to American businesses (Time). The urgency of the situation was underscored by the impending implementation of the tax and the potential for retaliatory tariffs, which Trump indicated would follow if Canada did not reconsider its position (Yahoo Finance).
Conclusion
The claim that Trump labeled Canada's tech tax a "direct and blatant attack" on the U.S. is True. This assertion is supported by direct quotes from Trump and corroborated by multiple reliable news sources that reported on the incident and its implications for U.S.-Canada trade relations.
Sources
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- Canada drops digital tax that angered Trump to resume US ...
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- Breakdown in Trade Talks Between U.S. and Canada, ...
- Pourquoi ce chapeau de Melania Trump - JForum
- 'Trade talks resume with US after Canada rescinds tech tax ...
- Faut-il acheter le smartphone de Donald Trump ? On fait le point …
- Canada rescinds digital services tax to resume ...
