Germany is still considering a 10-percent digital tax on major U.S. technology companies, despite the risk of escalating trade tensions with the United States, a senior official said Friday.
When speaking with local media outlet Welt TV, Philipp Amthor, parliamentary state secretary in Germany's first ever Digital Ministry, said that some U.S. digital giants, including Alphabet and Meta, are "cleverly engaging in tax avoidance" while everything from German businesses is taxed.
Calling the situation "a question of tax justice", he said that a fairer system needs to be put forward in the country, even across the whole Europe to address the tax avoidance by American tech corporations.
Germany's media and culture commissioner Wolfram Weimer said Thursday that the government was drafting a proposal for the digital tax and would negotiate with large U.S. digital platforms.
He stressed that Germany is becoming extremely dependent on the U.S technological infrastructure, which is worrying and therefore changes must be made.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also said earlier that the EU has currently adopted many preferential measures for U.S. technology companies, including taxation, but this situation can not continue. Noting that the bloc does not want to get embroiled in an escalation of the tariff war with the United States, he urged the two sides to jointly resolve economic and trade conflicts.
Germany considers 10-pct digital tax on US tech giants
Germany considers 10-pct digital tax on US tech giants
The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.
In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.
"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.
Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.
The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."
Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.
President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.
Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.
Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.
Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests
