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Reps. Kildee, Estes Introduce Resolution Condemning Foreign Digital Services Taxes

September 9, 2020

Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05), Chief Deputy Whip of the House Democratic Caucus, introduced H.Res. 1097 with Congressman Ron Estes (KS-04), a resolution condemning foreign Digital Services Taxes (DSTs).

These taxes, including those introduced by France and other countries, unfairly discriminate against U.S. digital firms and hamper American ingenuity. Last year, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer conducted an investigation and found France's DST unfairly discriminates against U.S. companies and noted their inconsistencies with international tax principles.

"Digital service taxes that discriminate against American companies must be stopped. Unfairly targeting American companies hurts the free and fair-trade principles we all strive to abide by," said Congressman Kildee. "I am proud to introduce this legislation with Rep. Estes in support of American businesses who are being discriminated against across the globe and call to an end to these practices."

"At no time should foreign countries target American companies to fill budget holes and pack their government coffers. Our current global pandemic highlights the urgency to call out these unfair tax practices and put an end to digital services taxes," said Congressman Estes. "France led the charge in implementing DSTs, which only prompted others to seek profit from American ingenuity. Trade Representative Lighthizer has provided clear evidence that France's DSTs are discriminatory and burdensome. After calling on France and others to end these DSTs, I'm asking my colleagues in the House to condemn the onerous DSTs and seek a multilateral solution to the changing global, digital economy."

View the full text of the resolution here.