US proposes tariffs on up to $2.4B on French imports

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is proposing tariffs on up to $2.4 billion worth of French imports – from Roquefort cheese to handbags – in retaliation for France’s tax on American tech giants such as Google, Amazon and Facebook.

The Office of the US Trade Representative says France’s new digital services tax discriminates against US companies and says that the tariffs could reach 100%. The agency will accept public comment on the plan through Jan. 6 and hold a hearing Jan. 7.

The French tax is designed to prevent tech companies from dodging taxes by putting headquarters in low-tax European countries. It would impose a 3% annual levy on French revenues of digital companies with yearly global sales worth more than 750 million euros ($830 million) and French revenue exceeding 25 million euros.