Trump Says US To Hit France With 'Substantial' Action For Digital Tax (reuters.com) 297
President Donald Trump said today the U.S. would hit France shortly with a "substantial reciprocal action" after Paris announced a tax aimed at U.S. technology companies. He said: "If anybody taxes them, it should be their home country, the USA. We will announce a substantial reciprocal action on Macron's foolishness shortly," Trump tweeted, referring to French President Emmanuel Macron. "I've always said American wine is better than French wine!"
there is absolutely nothing he doesnt know about (Score:3, Funny)
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https://www.trumpwinery.com/ [trumpwinery.com]
Gotta keep the emoluments coming folks.
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He's actually right for once. I'm not a wine person, but even to me, Californian wine is much better than French wine I tried, especially when comparing same price range. And both fall to a bunch of eastern Europe countries.
("Californian" as it appears no other state ships wine to Poland...)
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https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/IF11086.pdf [fas.org]
What does Trump consider substantial action? (Score:2, Insightful)
Asking for a friend...
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He will probably stop drinking french wine...
Re:What does Trump consider substantial action? (Score:5, Funny)
Or Russian pee...
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I'd give you the other funny mod if I ever got a mod point to give.
The anti-French Twitter rant is getting coverage on NHK evening news as I type this. Trump is doing a YUGE job of making America into an international laughing stock with his constant whining.
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Oh? So how come he can compare wines? No taste or liar (or both), there really is no positive alternative here.
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I have noticed. But his fans (see above) have not.
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I think he eventually admitted in a tweet or interview that he just prefers how the Californian wine bottles look. Brilliant.
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I remember him saying he has never had alcohol as well. I guess he's a BIG FAT PHONY!!
Oh, yeah (Score:5, Funny)
"I've always said American wine is better than French wine!"
If there's one thing we cab all agree on regarding Trump, it's that he's so obviously cultured and a great connoisseur of fine cuisine.
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Indeed. And he eats steak the only way it is supposed to be eaten, namely "well done"! Truly a beacon of style and good taste. I also hear he is scrupulously honest at Golf.
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I thought it was his daughter's beef curtains.
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It gets better, some woman who is a Prosperity Preacher is his "spiritual advisor". She was one of those who declare G-d wants you to give a seed of $1000 and that G-d will reward you....but He doesn't dole out favors for money...well, He wouldn't seeing as He isn't the one collecting.
I wonder if the Grifter in Chief forked over his $1000. I'm guessing he knows a scam when he see one, peering first hard at it to be sure it isn't one of his.
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WTF is a "prosperity preacher"? My apologies, but we Europeans are a bit behind on derangement, and we do not seem to have those.
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My apologies, but we Europeans are a bit behind on derangement, and we do not seem to have those.
I understand that homeopathy is quite popular in France, at least. It would seem Americans don't have an exclusive silly beliefs.
(Not that I disagree on the absurdity of "health and wealth" preachers)
Re:Oh, yeah (Score:5, Insightful)
WTF is a "prosperity preacher"? My apologies, but we Europeans are a bit behind on derangement, and we do not seem to have those.
Someone who espouses prosperity theology. [wikipedia.org]
Rough definition: give money to God, and you will get it back tenfold. But God doesn't have a bank account, so give it to your preacher instead.
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My late father-in-law tithed with no expectation of return because he just thought it was the right thing to do.
There are good and bad churches. I hope your father-in-law was a member of one of the good ones.
IMHO, the bad churches abuse and exploit their members, financially and/or psychologically, almost always to the benefit of a small number of people in charge.
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The word "exploit" implies a malicious or mercenary intent. I don't think all churches (or more generally, religious organizations) are like that. I think many of them sincerely want to do good, and offer fellowship to like-minded believers. And like most organizations, they need the support of their members, in the form of money and time. But if requests for that support are excessive or unreasonable, or are petitioned in a coercive manner, then I think that does constitute exploitation.
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Thanks. That one sounds _very_ American. Gave me a good laugh.
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That's the French spelling, pronounced "katsoo".
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Re:Oh, yeah (Score:5, Insightful)
Given that he's supposed to be a teetotaler, his knowledge of wine is undoubtedly at about the same level as everything else at which he claims to be an expert.
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"I've always said American wine is better than French wine!"
If there's one thing we cab all agree on regarding Trump, it's that he's so obviously cultured and a great connoisseur of fine cuisine.
Oh, yes. With one bite of a Big Mack he cal tell you down to the hour when the sauce was made, which mixing machine at the McDonalds factory it came from and which side of what mountain the cows the milk came from ate their grass and the spices in the sauce grew.
He prefers Trump Wine, of course! (Score:2)
https://www.grapeswine.com/pro... [grapeswine.com]
$21.99 per bottle, it seems ....
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And here I thought you were joking...
Re:He prefers Trump Wine, of course! (Score:5, Funny)
And the vintage year is 2016. Shudder.
"Scent of golf-course grass and fresh Benjamins, orange-bodied with notes of burnt truth, leading to an aftertaste of Russian hooker piss."
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Well, there is this, then...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... [wikipedia.org]
Although the results could be interpreted to mean that wine tasters are just imagining they can tell the difference.
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The NHK story (international news in Japan) included video of the #OrangeOxyMoron making a buffoon of himself saying French wines were inferior because they are ugly compared to the American wines, while proclaiming he's never tasted any of them. Does he know what wine is for? He thinks wine is some kind of paint or table accessory to make the glasses look nice? What an incredible clown.
However the buffoonery of the week has to go to Trump's hour-long speech in front of the fake presidential seal. #Presiden
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He thinks wine is some kind of paint or table accessory to make the glasses look nice?
I've certainly had wine that would have been best as some sort of table accessory before...
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I quite like some of the wines from Washington and Oregon. It’s just that I doubt even Trump’s supporters look to him for guidance regarding quality food or drink.
Home countires?! (Score:5, Insightful)
Most of these outfits are registered in tax shelters, not in the USA. Not sure why we should EVER lift a finger for a company that is not incorporated here.
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Agreed with this. First, most of these tech companies are turning the world into a dystopian nightmare. Second, they hide their profits offshore by incorporating in tax havens. So there's no moral reason to help them, and every logical reason to tell them to fend for themselves. They're not "technically" American companies for tax reasons, so let them face the socialist vultures across the world. Don't lift a finger to help them. Unless of course they want to come play ball.
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It is true they play games with shell companies in lower tax areas, but the way to fix that is to fix it, not throw a tax on global profits. That violates the rule that you only tax stuff that happens in your borders, necessary to international harmony.
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Parent company in Ireland or the Bahamas, all profits funnelled there to avoid paying as much tax as possible.
Comment removed (Score:5, Insightful)
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They, and their lobbyists wrote those laws.
US system of government is more of an auction where highest bidder wins right to make up the rules, than a democracy.
https://www.upworthy.com/20-ye... [upworthy.com]
Re: Hate the law, not the corporation obeying it. (Score:2)
The idea that corporations are somehow compelled to seek maximum profit over good governance is a myth.
How do you think corporations donate money to causes?
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How do you think corporations donate money to causes?
If any company from the USA (whether registered there or not) gave money to charity without some form of return, their officers would be on the receiving end or lawsuits if they were lucky
What sort of return? being seen to be "nice" perhaps to generate better business or to cut out whatever minuscule % of tax they pay?
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Google France SarL is a subsidiary company incorporated in France, according to their SEC filings [sec.gov]
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Never mind that if this were a French company that was not paying taxes in the US. Trump would be all over that in an instant. Trump is the epitome of a double standard.
"American wine is better than French wine" (Score:2)
So in addition to all his other failings, Trump has no taste in wine? That tears it!
Stupid is as Stupid does. (Score:2)
People wanting to pay MORE for French wine.... vs a cheapo wine will gladly pay more for French wine. Part of paying premium is the status illustrated in the action.
Even 50% won't make a dent and can easily be offset by the French from the revenue by taxing multinationals wanting to do business in France but that have been lacking the usual physical presence that always existed until the internet. Taxing online has been an ongoing problem.
As Republican once said off record: "he's a fucking evil Forest Gum
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CA wine *is* better than French wine. Majority of varieties beat out their French counterparts in blind taste tests, in America and in Europe, and both before and after aging. CA has a better climate and France has a *ton* of legally enforced traditions (about how the wine must be processed, stored and blended) that result in an inferior product.
Trump got it right for once. France's protectionism has resulted in an inferior product. All they have is their
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Wanna bet ? (Score:5, Funny)
He's going to tax French fries...
Re:Wanna bet ? (Score:5, Funny)
French Fries - not french
French Dressing - not french
French Kissing - not french
French Toast - not french
French Press Coffee - not french
French Horn - not french
French Cut Green Beans - not french
French Bulldog - not french
French Manicure - not french
French Braid - not french
These import duties are simply consumption taxes.
Pretty sure it'll end up like this (Score:2)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]
My first thought (Score:2)
Dishes it out, but can't take it (Score:5, Insightful)
If anybody taxes them, it should be their home country
So sayeth Captain Tariff.
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He clearly doesn't know how taxes work.
Please, no more taxes! (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Please, no more taxes! (Score:5, Insightful)
Yes, and we'll be down another $16 Billion in "aid", please do not think of this as a political payoff, to the farmers who are getting screwed because Trump tariffed their markets away. Serves them right for voting for that dingbat in the first place.
Napa valey will be pleased (Score:5, Insightful)
When the whole EU retaliates.
Re:Napa valey will be pleased (Score:4, Funny)
When the whole EU retaliates.
How is the EU supposed to retaliate . . . ?
Everything from Californian companies is made in China anyway.
Take a long look at the fine print on your Californian bottle of wine.
It states: "Designed and Engineered in Cupertino, California. Produced and bottled in China, from Chinese grapes."
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Except almonds, that is.
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Considering current relationship between US and Germany and deadlock between US trade officials and Commission's negotiating team, that is probably coming regardless. About the only way to break that deadlock is to force Germany to not just blindly support French in "agricultural imports are to be effectively blocked with high tariffs, and we refuse to even talk about it. Also, US should allow us to export food to them with no or low tariffs." Germans aren't that deeply invested in blocking foreign agricult
As it should (Score:2, Interesting)
You can't just reach into US pockets anymore and expect that it'll allow that in exchange for "being liked abroad". I like this new position. Domestic wine and cheese industry could always use a boost.
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I eagerly await your opposing justification for why tariffs are good.
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Because you want to have your nation's industry succeed, rather than getting killed by subsidized imports from abroad.
This rule is applicable to every state on the planet.
Re:As it should (Score:4, Insightful)
So you're in favor of France's proposed tax ?
Just trying to determine if you're in favor of tariffs in general or only in the circumstances where you perceive them, with a sufficiently narrow view, as benefiting you.
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Except tariffs are literally a tax on doing business in america paid for by american companies and drive production offshore. A tariff is a tax you pay only if your factories are in the united states.
Imagine you run a factory in the united states, Your choices are to raise your (already high due to US manufacturing) price by 30% to account for the greater cost of tools/raw materials brought on by the tariff. making you non-competitive on the global market due to charging too much. Or you can just move your
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That is the lie. "Efficient overall" commonly advertised by globalist crowd as a universal good is one of the most monstrous systems there can be, as a very large minority of people aren't efficient. Essentially you're talking about natural selection where large minority of the bottom of the society starves.
One of the main reasons to limit "overall efficiency" of uncontrolled free trade is specifically to mitigate against this and allow the less efficient people in your country to still find employment. Les
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You can't just reach into US pockets anymore... [somehow turn that into justification for tariffs, despite tariffs doing exactly that]
Even when products are manufactured domestically, and they get all of their parts and all of their labor domestically, tariffs still raise prices on those products by reducing competition from foreign sources.
You say that the domestic cheese industry could use a boost: have you ever wondered why cheese is so much more expensive, and the domestic stuff generally of much poorer quality, in the US compared to Europe? Setting aside the raw milk issue, all foreign cheese is taxed at a minimum of 100%. Some ty
If revenue, then pay tax. (Score:5, Insightful)
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Sovereignty (Score:4, Insightful)
Because only the USA is allowed sovereignty over it's economy and government. Everyone else, bow down to the USA and do what we say, or else the orange baboon will bully you into submission.
Welcome to Russia 2.0. The Soviet States of America and all that bs. Give me a break. France is our ally. Friends don't do this sort of thing to friends. This is why the orange baboon has no friends.
Even if France wasn't our ally and friend (which the way were heading, that could become reality in short order!), this is still complete BS. How would Trump like it if other countries starting doing this BS to us over our own decisions regarding our government and economy? He'd be screaming bloody murder and threatening nukes.
Dump Trump.
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They are the state behind "we will not even talk about lifting agricultural tariffs on food coming from US"
Bzzzt. Wrong. Please try again.
This has absolutely nothing to do with tariffs and trade. This is about a local government deciding to tax economic activity within their own borders. To be quite blunt, it really has nothing at all to do with the USA. USA is just being complete a-holes cuz we think we're somehow supposed to protect these internet companies.
Give me a break, these are the same companies that move their corporate headquarters to which ever country has the best tax deal. They have no loyalt
A win for Macron (Score:2)
If you think a company is "american" (Score:3)
Just raise their taxes and see what happens next.
Wait (Score:5, Insightful)
but (Score:5, Insightful)
"If anybody taxes them, it should be their home country, the USA.
But it doesn't. And that's part of the problem.
The other part is that they make profits in (insert arbitrary country here) but pay almost no taxes there. And that isn't right. Make business, pay your taxes. Because if you don't, then other people have to do it, namely us.
What I absolutely don't understand is people defending these companies. Don't you fools get it that every $ of taxes that companies avoid will be paid by you instead? The government is certainly not going to just shrug and do without money. They'll just take it from people who can't fight back with armies of lawyers - you and me.
Why in all hells would a person with a working brain ever defend corporate tax evasion ?
Biggest tax shelter in the world (Score:5, Informative)
It's understandable that the US is upset. After all, the US is, by some measures, the biggest tax shelter in the world [indiafintech.com].
For international businesses playing silly tax games, a simple tax on their turnover makes a lot of sense.
An opportunity for Belgians (Score:2)
I heard there are people in Belgium who hope to convince English speakers around the world to cease to say "French fries" and replace the expression by "Belgian fries". This is maybe their window of opportunity.
(Yes, there are actually people who bother to claim the paternity of fries)
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I've noticed quite a few of you Trump supporters seem to be unaware his 2020 re-election slogan is not "MAGA", it's (ostensibly) "KAG".
Perhaps I'm going out on a limb here, but maybe if y'all actually familiarized yourself with Trump's positions on the issues you hold near and dear (for example, Trump signed an executive order banning bump stocks), you might discover he's not quite as palatable as you were lead to believe. But at the very least, try to get the campaign slogan right.
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Gotta love his Wall that Mexico paid for.
He also struck down gun silencers.
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Re: MAGA! (Score:2)
Bump stocks suck. They destroy your accuracy and waste ammunition. Unlike actual automatic fire control systems, they require the shooter to give up a solid point of contact (shoulder) in order to operate.
Nobody lost anything of value. Some idiots lost a toy that had no value.
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President Trump could have France drop on their knees begging for forgiveness if he blocked the export of Jerry Lewis video content to France.
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As to the current situation, the administration is already being heavy handed. Whether you feel it's justified or not, it's no surprise that other countries are taking this chance to fight back.
Re:Fighting? (Score:5, Interesting)
We're (not exaggerating) looking at the runup to a major tariff war.
That's what got us into the Great Depression.
Also, the rise of populism (Trump, Johnson) is reminiscent of the runup to WWI and WWII.
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My guess is that he's betting he won't be re-elected so he's making damn sure that his prophesy comes true.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-06-15/trump-warns-of-epic-stock-market-crash-if-he-s-not-re-elected [bloomberg.com]
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Re: Fighting? (Score:2)
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Who's idea was it to give the president the ability to set taxes like this?
The founders.
They decided the President should be in charge of foreign policy, and international trade is part of foreign policy.