Washington – The Computer & Communications Industry Association applauds Representatives Ron Estes, R-Kan., and Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., for introducing a bipartisan resolution opposing discriminatory digital services taxes (DSTs) and similar measures that unfairly target U.S. digital companies. The resolution supports continued engagement through the OECD process while also calling on the U.S. government to use all available trade and tax tools, including Section 301 investigations, to push back against countries that maintain or introduce such measures.
The resolution comes as governments around the world continue advancing DSTs and other discriminatory digital measures that target U.S. firms and undermine longstanding international tax and trade norms. This resolution targets both existing DSTs (e.g., France, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Austria, and the United Kingdom, which CCIA estimates collectively generated nearly $10 billion through 2024, largely at the expense of U.S. firms) and highlights active proposals in Poland and Belgium. These same concerns (revenue-based taxes targeting U.S. firms) are also implicated in a novel measure being proposed in Australia at the behest of its news industry: a News Media Bargaining Incentive, which would impose discriminatory, revenue-based obligations on a narrow group of predominantly U.S. companies.
CCIA has consistently opposed DSTs and similar measures that single out U.S. companies through discriminatory taxes and other targeted obligations, contravening traditional international tax principles. CCIA supports continued OECD engagement toward fair and durable multilateral solutions for international taxation, but also recognizes the need for the United States to respond to unilateral measures targeting U.S. firms through trade enforcement tools, including Section 301.
The following can be attributed to CCIA Vice President for Public Policy, Brian McMillan:
“We commend Representatives Estes and DelBene for their bipartisan leadership in pushing back against discriminatory digital taxes targeting American companies, while preserving space for a durable multilateral solution through the OECD process. DSTs and similar policies undermine core principles of fair and non-discriminatory treatment of international firms, create serious risks of double taxation, and disproportionately burden leading U.S. exporters.”
