Earlier this year, France decided to introduce a digital tax of 3 percent for companies that in France have a profit of more than SEK 263 million and turnover in excess of SEK 7.9 billion globally, according to Finnish Yle.

In total, 30 companies are affected by the tax and the majority of these are headquartered in the United States.

"I will not allow France to exploit American companies," says US President Donald Trump, reports the Reuters news agency.

The United States looks red

This has now led the United States to threaten to impose tariffs on goods such as French sparkling wines, cheeses, cosmetics and handbags.

"This decision sends a clear signal that the United States is taking action against taxes that discriminate or impose unjustified burdens on American companies," said U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lightizer, according to Yle.

The US Chamber of Commerce has previously warned that tariffs on French goods could start a new trade war.

Austria and Italy also have similar taxes and more EU countries are planning to introduce something similar. France has said that it intends to abolish the tax on the EU for something similar throughout the Union.

The EU backs France

At a press conference in the EU Commission on Tuesday, the EU declared that it will agree with France.

- As with all other trade issues, the EU will act and act as a single entity and we will continue to unite. We have a close dialogue with France about what the next steps will be, says Daniel Rosario, spokesman for trade, agriculture and rural development in the European Commission.

Macron's Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire went out later in the day, calling the threat unacceptable and that the EU was prepared to respond if the US takes action.