EDITORIAL
>> To protest against the tax on Gafa, the digital giants, created by France, the United States is threatening tariffs to the tune of $ 2.4 billion some French products. Many consumer goods such as yogurt, makeup, handbags or sparkling wine could be overtaxed. Tuesday in London, Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron, were optimistic about their ability to find a solution. The tax Gafa is a "very risky bet" judges the columnist Nicolas Barré, on Europe 1.
"French exporters are hit hard: American sanctions against the French Gafa tax are hurting, can we win this showdown?" And that is what worries the industrialists of the world. agribusiness, cosmetics or luxury who are the collateral victims of a conflict that does not concern them.With its tax Gafa, France has made a very risky bet, I would say "to Trump", with a unilateral tax. A tax that, in the scenario dreamed of Paris, was to be supported by all Europe and even beyond, and thus to bend Trump who also does not maintain the best relations with Facebook or Amazon.But this scenario does not did not work, hence a list of sanctions against the biggest French exporters and which, potentially, can hurt a lot.
>> Find all the economic edits of Nicolas Barré in replay and podcast here
And how can we get out of this situation? If the sanctions are really implemented by the American president, France is strong enough to convince Europe to riot. Problem: few European countries have decided to implement a Gafa tax: Spain, United Kingdom, Italy, Ireland. The others, more cautious or downright hostile, are waiting to see what will happen. In short, there is no united European front in this affair. France's bet remains to convince more countries to adopt this Gafa tax to create a balance of power in our favor. But it is not won, very far from it. And in the meantime, it is the exporters of cheese, champagne and luxury products - and therefore our trade balance - that are likely to pay the price. "