France calls U.S. pullout from digital tax talks a "provocation"
French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire slammed as a "provocation" on Thursday a call by the United States for a break in negotiations on how to tax digital giants internationally. "I confirm that we have received a letter from US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin confirming that they don't want to pursue OECD talks on the digital tax," Le Maire told France Inter radio.
- Economy
- Reuters
- Published Date: 10:35 | 18 June 2020
- Modified Date: 10:35 | 18 June 2020
Washington's decision to pull out of negotiations on a digital services tax is a "provocation" and Paris will apply such a levy this year despite U.S. objections, France's Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Thursday.
Le Maire said France, Britain, Italy and Spain had jointly responded on Thursday to a letter from U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announcing Washington's decision to withdraw from negotiations on the planned taxes.
"This letter is a provocation. It's a provocation towards all the partners at the OECD when we were centimetres away from a deal on the taxation of digital giants," Le Maire said on France Inter radio.