Poland will face consequences if it introduces a levy on large technology companies, the incoming US envoy to Warsaw warned on Monday, as the spat between the two allies escalated.
The government seeks to present a model to collect taxes from the so-called Big Tech firms in the coming months, Digitization Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski was reported as saying by PAP newswire on Monday. Tom Rose, whom President Donald Trump appointed as US next ambassador in Poland, called the plan “not very smart” in a post on social media platform X.
Rose said that the new tax would hurt the relations between the two countries and the US president would “reciprocate as well he should.”
The response comes a day after Poland’s Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski clashed with Elon Musk on the X platform over Starlink satellite-internet system for Ukraine and was also accused by the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio of “making things up.”
Protecting interests of American businesses, possibly ideological although bribery could be involved too. Trump has been consistent on tariffs for nearly 50 years so it’s safe to assume it’s one of his few core beliefs that’s not as easily affected by his other personality issues.
American Business is modelled on importing and outsourcing. I don’t understand how this protects business interests
You’re right and this disregard for the old system is making me nervous. These moves are so economically unsound that I can only draw the conclusion that the old neo-liberal business interests are not a concern anymore. If America tanks its importing and outsourcing model, what will it be replaced with? I’m not confident there’s a plan here (other than isolation and destruction).
I’ve been trying to figure out many of the conservative viewpoints for a long time. some of them I can steel man a little bit, but this one really confuses me a lot. it’s just too stupid
Taxes make companies earn less money. Trump tries to dissuade Poland from taxing American companies using threat of tariffs. I’m not sure how to put it in easier terms.
Tariffs also lose businesses money, not sure how to make it simpler
I need you to make it less simple because you’re glossing over the details. Walk me through how tariffs on polish sausages (or whatever product/industry you think is adequate) will affect American business. This is not a symmetrical relationship between US and Poland and we don’t trade as much as most think.