Defending American Companies and Innovators From Overseas Extortion and Unfair Fines and Penalties

President Donald Trump issued a memorandum on February 21, 2025, aimed at protecting American companies from foreign digital services taxes and regulations that he argues unfairly target U.S. businesses. This directive empowers U.S. officials to investigate and potentially impose tariffs in response to these foreign measures, which the administration views as discriminatory and harmful to American economic interests. The action could lead to increased trade tensions, especially with countries in Europe, and may affect international diplomatic and economic relations as the U.S. seeks to counteract what it perceives as extraterritorial overreach by other nations.