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Trump promises retaliation over 'foolish' Macron digital tax

In a vitriolic message posted on Twitter, US President Donald Trump slammed a new tax to be levied by France on sales in the country by multinational digital tech firms like Google and Apple, announcing he will take "substantial reciprocal action on Macron's foolishness" and hinting this would be a raising of tariffs on French wine imports. 

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US President Donald Trump has accused his French counterpart of "foolishness" over a digital services tax levied by France, hinting that he would tax French wine in retaliation, reports BBC News.

Mr Trump voiced his anger in a Tweet directed at the French President, Emmanuel Macron.

France's 3% tax is to be levied on sales generated by multinational firms like Google.

The Trump administration argues that it unfairly targets US tech giants.

"France just put a digital tax on our great American technology companies. If anybody taxes them, it should be their home Country, the US," Mr Trump wrote on Twitter.

"We will announce a substantial reciprocal action on Macron's foolishness shortly. I've always said American wine is better than French wine!"

The president - who does not drink - also warned US tech giant Apple that it would not be given any tariff relief on parts made in China. "Make them in the USA, no Tariffs!" he wrote.

The French government argues that multinational firms such as Apple, which are headquartered outside the country, pay little or no tax on their sales in France. The digital sales tax was approved by the French Senate on Thursday, a week after it was passed by the lower house, the National Assembly.

Any digital company with revenue of more than 750 million euros ($850m; £670m) - of which at least 25 million is generated in France - will now be subject to the tax, which will be retroactively applied from early 2019 and is expected to raise about 400 million euros in revenue this year.

Read more of this report from BBC News.