NFTC Statement on French DST Collection

Washington D.C. – National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) Vice President for Global Trade Issues Jake Colvin released the following statement in response to French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire’s announcement that France will begin collecting digital services taxes after the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) delayed its deadline for achieving a global consensus-based solution to the tax challenges arising from digitalization:

“France’s decision to collect DST taxes is extremely troubling and is directly contrary to the recommendations of OECD’s leadership to avoid taking unilateral measures. Moving ahead with a unilateral DST threatens to sap whatever political momentum exists to find multilateral consensus at the OECD, and to worsen bilateral economic relations with the United States. This move by France will only give cover to other countries to move ahead with implementing and collecting other discriminatory services taxes, which would fray the global international tax framework.”

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About the NFTC
Serving America’s Global Businesses Since 1914– The National Foreign Trade Council (www.nftc.org) is a leading business organization advocating an open, rules- based global trading system. Founded in 1914 by a broad-based group of American companies, the NFTC now serves its member companies through its office in Washington D.C.

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