USTRSection 301Completed

Initiation of a Section 301 Investigation of France's Digital Services Tax

Aug 19, 2019 · 2:00 PM EDT

Why review: Watch for §301 review scope, exclusions, retaliation, or comment-window signals.

Scope

Section 301Tariff§301

Pre-hearing brief

USTR has determined that France's Digital Services Tax is actionable under Section 301, finding it discriminatory against U.S. digital companies. Importers of French goods face potential additional tariffs as a retaliatory measure under that determination.

The investigation and determination concern France's Digital Services Tax and its effect on U.S. digital companies. Potential retaliatory measures would apply to French goods, though specific HS headings or product categories are not named in the linked signals.

What to watch

Public comment period on potential retaliatory tariff measures on French goods, opened by the January 7, 2020 USTR determination notice
Whether USTR proceeds to impose additional tariffs on French goods following the actionability finding
Scope of which French goods may be subject to retaliatory tariffs, not yet defined in the linked signals

On the policy arc

Official actions this hearing connects to across the primary sources Traverse tracks.

FR noticeAug 19, 2019
USTR Opens Section 301 Investigation into France's Digital Services Tax
FR noticeJan 7, 2020
USTR Section 301 Determination: France Digital Services Tax

Materials

Announcement