Trump Threatens 'Big Tariff' on UK Over Digital Services Tax on US Tech Companies

President Trump threatened to impose substantial tariffs on the United Kingdom unless it eliminates its 2% digital services tax on major US technology companies including Google, Apple, and Meta. Speaking to journalists at the White House, Trump stated: 'if they don't drop the tax, we'll probably put a big tariff on the U.K.' The threat came just before King Charles's visit to the United States and represents an escalation in trade tensions with a key ally. The UK's digital services tax, introduced in 2020, applies to revenues of large tech companies, which the US claims unfairly discriminates against American firms. The UK government defended the tax regime following Trump's warning. This represents a pattern of Trump using tariff threats as a coercive diplomatic tool against traditional allies.

“if they don't drop the tax, we'll probably put a big tariff on the U.K.” — Speaking to journalists at the White House about the UK's digital services tax, just before King Charles's scheduled visit to the United States Quote verified against source