President Donald Trump’s administration still might double U.S. taxes on French taxpayers and companies—even as negotiators work towards a broader international solution.
A short negotiation window over France’s plan to tax digital companies such as Facebook Inc. and Alphabet Inc., combined with tension over Trump’s use of tariffs, has those tracking the issue concerned it could escalate. Trade and tax experts also worry that proliferation of digital taxes around the world could drag on the global economy, becoming the internet equivalent of tariffs.
“Right now I don’t think there’s much optimism about an outcome, certainly within the timeframe given,” said ...