“With the EU and the U.S. embroiled in the final stretch of negotiations over a trade deal, Brussels removed the digital tax option from its ― supposedly unrelated ― list of proposed taxes for bringing in revenue during its next seven-year spending program, according to a document circulated on Friday seen by POLITICO.”

With a weakened Ursula von der Leyen at the helm, the commission is deciding which taxes to include in its budget proposal for 2028-2034.

“Deciding against a digital levy would be a major turn-around for the EU, which as recently as May floated taxing tech giants as a way of paying back the bloc’s debt. The idea was mentioned in a document on the next budget discussed by the EU’s 27 commissioners.

The U-turn could be a strategic move by the EU, which is desperate for advantageous terms on trade with the U.S. President Donald Trump threatened tariffs against Canada as payback for their digital levies.”

The European nations are not keen on Brussels raising taxes on their citizens, with way too much autonomy over how they spend it.

As of today, most EU funds come from governments’ contributions.

“According to Friday’s document, instead of a digital levy it wants to propose three new taxes targeting electric waste, tobacco products and large companies in the EU with a turnover of over €50 million. The aim is to generate from €25 to €30 billion per year that will be used to repay EU joint debt that was used to finance its post-Covid recovery.”

Trump To Impose an Additional 10% Tariffs for Countries Aligning With ‘Anti-American Policies’ of BRICS Group