The Supreme Court may have ruled his first series of illegal tariffs, but Donald Trump doesn’t hesitate to reiterate the threat. This time, London is bearing the brunt. Addressing reporters gathered in the Oval Office on Thursday, April 23, the President of the United States pledged to impose customs tariffs on the United Kingdom if Prime Minister Keir Starmer did not abandon the Digital Services Tax (DST).
“We have looked into the matter and can easily respond by simply imposing high tariffs on the UK, so they better watch out,” challenged the White House occupant.
Established in 2020, the DST targets platforms with a global turnover from digital activities exceeding £500 million, of which over £25 million comes from UK users, imposing a 2% tax on their revenue. Last year, it collected £944 million – just over one billion euros – according to the British Treasury. A profit that could rise to £1.4 billion by 2030, according to local authorities’ calculations.
An injustice, says Donald Trump: “I don’t like that they are targeting American companies because, fundamentally, these are our great American companies. […] These are the best companies in the world.” Referring, among others, to Apple, Google, and Meta. Asked about the amount of customs duties he planned to apply to the UK, the president retorted that they would be “higher than what they receive” thanks to this tax on the tech giants.
Threats from Washington come amid tension between Keir Starmer and Donald Trump. Relations between the two heads of state deteriorated after several clashes, notably over the DST, since May 2025: during the signing of the trade agreement between the two countries, and again in November, Washington had already tried to persuade the UK to abandon the tax, in vain.
Other points of contention include the moderation of online content – especially on X – which the White House perceives as an infringement on freedom of expression, as well as London’s initial refusal to grant access to its airbases to US troops in the context of the US-led war in Iran.
As King Charles III is expected across the Atlantic on Monday, April 27, the White House occupant declared that this visit could “completely” restore the close ties between the two Anglo-Saxon nations. “He’s a courageous man, and he’s a great man,” he assured the BBC. Regarding the Prime Minister, Donald Trump is less forgiving: he can only “make up for it” if he changes course on immigration matters, he later estimated with the British channel. And the billionaire concludes: “But if he doesn’t, I don’t think he stands a chance.”
Could tensions over the GAFA tax eventually affect other European countries? France, Spain, Italy, Austria, Denmark, Hungary, Poland, and Portugal also apply a similar tax, which earned Paris €756 million in 2024. “They think they’re going to make easy money, that’s why they all took advantage of our country,” lashed out the White House tenant this Thursday.
Since August 2025, Donald Trump warned on his Truth Social platform: “This must stop […] unless these discriminatory measures are lifted, I will impose additional substantial tariffs” on these countries’ exports to the United States. Despite his threats, the president actually has limited firepower. To circumvent the Supreme Court’s decision, he must turn to another law: Article 122. However, as the Telegraph points out, this provision sets tariffs at a maximum of 10%, does not allow targeting individual countries, and without Congress’s approval, these tariffs cannot exceed 150 days.
