The weekly trade report with L.C. Beijing made it official this week: China is formally asking to join the CPTPP. The process ahead for it is expected to be long and difficult and quite likely unsuccessful. China’s announcement came, probably not accidentally, a day after the US, Australia, and the UK announced on September 15th […]
Pandemic Trade War or Great GAFA Tax Heist?
France can’t decide whether it wants to exemplify the reason and logic of René Descartes or the “bed-wetting” (President Charles DeGaulle’s term) of the May 1968 student rioters. The latter now seems the preference of the French government as exemplified by its unprincipled tax attack on four hugely successful US internet companies. The attack should […]
French impose tax aimed mainly at US software companies
Trade correspondent L.C. reports: US Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer announced on July 10th that it is initiating a Section 301 investigation focused on the new French Digital Services Tax (DST). The tax is expected to hit major US technology companies hard. The investigation will determine if the tax is an unfair trade barrier and […]
