Parliamentarians voted this Tuesday, October 28, in favor of doubling the rate of the Gafam tax, which affects large technology companies, from 3 to 6%, despite opposition from the government, concerned about possible retaliation from the Trump administration.
In committee, Macronist elected officials had proposed increasing the rate from 3% to 15%, before changing their mind during the session and supporting a 6% compromise. The amendment by deputy Jean-René Cazeneuve (Renaissance) thus obtained 296 votes in favor, compared to 58.
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“Digital giants must pay a tax in France proportional to their activity. They have multiplied a series of legal tricks so that their turnover and profitability are not known,” denounced the Macronist deputy in the chamber to justify the increase in the tax.
But “I am not here to reopen a trade war between France and the United States,” he added, finally opting for a more moderate rate of 6%. This change of course provoked the indignation of left-wing deputies, who denounced a withdrawal in the face of American pressure.
Before the vote, Economy Minister Roland Lescure asked deputies to exercise restraint: “If we introduce a disproportionate tax, we will have disproportionate retaliation.” “Be careful, I beg you,” the minister even implored.
During the process, Republicans announced that they would not vote on any proposal that would increase this tax, to “preserve our agricultural, wine and spirits sectors”, the first to be affected in the event of retaliation, according to deputy Valérie Bazin-Malgras. For the socialist deputy Philippe Brun, in the chamber “two sides face each other”, between those “who think that we will always have to kneel before the American giant” and those who “assert themselves” and “do not accept that a country imposes its only law.”
Several deputies from the left and the National Group also denounced the weakness of the European Union in the confrontation with Donald Trump, who imposed customs duties of 15% on certain French products during the summer.
Source: BFM TV
