Bessent Cites Digital Services Tax as Sticking Point in EU Talks

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the European Union has some “internal matters” to sort out before the bloc can enter into trade negotiations with the US, singling out a tax on digital services levied by some countries.

“We’re negotiating with a lot of different interests,” Bessent said Tuesday during a briefing at the White House. “Some of the European countries have put on an unfair digital service tax” on the US, he said.

The US has for years objected to moves by foreign countries that multiple administrations have argued unfairly target American technology giants like Amazon.com Inc. and Google owner ...