Trade War Over Digital Tax Unlikely: French Lawmaker (Corrected)

A French lawmaker involved in drafting the country’s digital tax bill dismissed concerns that the proposal could lead to a trade war with the U.S.

“Our response is two-fold. First, France is a sovereign country that conducts its own tax policy. Second, I don’t see how a trade war could be started by a tax that raises 400 million euros,” assembly member Joel Giraud said April 8 as the country’s National Assembly began debate on the measure.

• Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has urged France not to move forward with the proposal, which is aimed at U.S. tech ...