Goliath vs. David

Published in La Croix
(France) on 3 December 2019
by Guillaume Goubert (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Haley Frevert. Edited by Laurence Bouvard.
Washington is threatening to punish France for its GAFA* tax.

Do as I say, not as I do. That is how the attitude of the U.S. administration concerning international economic relations can be summarized. For two years, the United States has imposed numerous sanctions on its trade partners—against China, for example, which is accused of distorting competition with subsidies for its businesses or by manipulating its currency.

Yet for all that, America will not accept any other country doing the same. As soon as France decides tax digital platforms via what’s being called the GAFA tax, the American Goliath climbs onto its high horse and announces its decision to implement import tariffs of up to 100% on champagne, cheese and leather goods.

Donald Trump’s attitude speaks volumes about the influence of multinational companies like Google, Amazon or Facebook. Last August, in Biarritz, Donald Trump declared himself to be in favor of an international agreement to tax these companies before revealing himself to be far more reticent, and threatening France. On Tuesday in London, the American president and his French counterpart sought to play down the disagreement. It is nonetheless very real, and France will have to count on the support of its European partners so that the taxation of GAFA can move forward.

*Editor’s Note: Acronym for Google Apple Facebook Amazon


Faites ce que je dis, ne faites pas ce que je fais. Ainsi peut-on résumer l’attitude de l’administration américaine s’agissant des relations économiques internationales. Depuis deux ans, les États-Unis ont pris de nombreuses sanctions contre leurs partenaires commerciaux. Par exemple contre la Chine, accusée de fausser la concurrence par des subventions à ses entreprises ou par la manipulation du cours de sa monnaie.

Pour autant, l’Amérique n’accepte en aucun cas qu’un autre pays fasse de même. Lorsque la France décide d’imposer les plateformes numériques via ce que l’on appelle la taxe Gafa, le Goliath américain grimpe sur ses grands chevaux et annonce sa volonté d’instaurer des taxes douanières allant jusqu’à 100 % sur le champagne, le fromage ou la maroquinerie.

L’attitude de Donald Trump en dit long sur l’influence de multinationales comme Google, Amazon ou Facebook. En août dernier, à Biarritz, Donald Trump s’était déclaré favorable à un accord international pour taxer ces entreprises avant de se montrer beaucoup plus réservé et de menacer la France. Mardi à Londres, le président américain et son homologue français ont voulu dédramatiser le désaccord. Il n’en demeure pas moins bien réel et la France devra pouvoir compter sur le soutien de ses partenaires européens pour que la cause de l’imposition des Gafa puisse avancer.
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