US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has stated that Donald Trump's threat of a 100% import tariff on the UK is not a bluff, in response to the country's digital services tax on American social media firms. The US administration has threatened tariffs since June, after Trump criticized the tax as discriminatory against American companies like Google and Apple. The UK's digital services tax, which raises £800m annually, applies to global revenues exceeding £500m. Greer expressed a willingness to continue discussing the issue with the UK's business and trade minister Jonathan Reynolds, but emphasized that Trump is "eager to enforce our trade policy" and prevent discrimination against US companies.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-18,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Donald Trump's US administration has threatened a 100% import tariff on the UK over its digital services tax on American technology firms, and US trade representative Jamieson Greer has stated that this threat is "not a bluff". The UK's digital services tax targets companies like Google and Apple with global digital revenues exceeding £500m. This tax raises £800m in revenue for the UK Treasury by 2024/25, up from £678m in 2023/24. Trump first warned of imposing tariffs on European countries, including the UK, back in June, after a similar warning in May. Despite these threats, no action has been taken yet. However, Greer gave new Prime Minister Andy Burnham (note: actually Boris Johnson is the current PM) some time to respond, stating that he doesn't set artificial timelines and that Trump wants to enforce US trade policy and protect American companies.
Written for “Trump UK Trade Tensions” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
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stored, so you can find it in the original.
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numerous European countries have been discussing the imminent implementation of a Digital Services Tax on American Companies.
right the article presents this as a threat to US companies
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any Country that imposes such a Tax will immediately be met with a 100% TARIFF on any and all Goods sent to the United States of America.
right the article presents this as a direct warning to countries considering a digital services tax
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We have a handful of countries in Europe and the UK who have these in place, so we’re interested in seeing those eliminated.
right Jamieson Greer's statement indicates a desire to eliminate digital services taxes
Leaning score +0.80 for article 916 (high confidence, 3 verified quotes) · logged 2026-08-26
Donald Trump’s threat of a 100 per cent import tariff on the UK over Britain’s digital services tax on American social media firms is “not a bluff”, a US trade representative has said.
asserted
representative → say → firms
Back in June, the US president warned of imposing the tariff on European countries, including the UK which taxes companies, such as Google and Apple, with global digital revenues exceeding £500m.
The two per cent levy is viewed as an important revenue stream for The Treasury, raising £800m in 2024/25, up from £678m in 2023/24.
asserted
levy → warn → 2023/24
Mr Trump’s threat in June followed a similar warning the month before when he indicated that substantial tariffs could be imposed unless the UK reversed its digital services tax on American technology firms.
uncertain
UK → follow → firms
However, despite the threats the US administration has so far not yet followed them up with action.
asserted
administration → follow → action
But speaking to The Times, US trade representative Jamieson Greer said the warnings were “not a bluff” - although when asked about a deadline, he appeared to give new prime minister Andy Burnham some time to respond.
asserted
he → speak → time
He said: “I don’t set artificial timelines.
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I → say → timelines
All I know is the president is eager to enforce our trade policy, he’s eager to make sure our companies aren’t discriminated against.
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companies → know → policy
The UK’s global digital revenues levy, implemented in 2020, applies a charge on incomes of major US companies such as Apple, Alphabet’s Google, and Meta - but it has faced criticism from both Mr Trump and his successor, Joe Biden.
asserted
it → implement → Trump
The issue arose as the UK-US trade deal, signed last year, came under increasing strain toward the end of Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership, with the US president criticising Sir Keir over decisions on North Sea drilling and migration.
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president → arise → drilling
In his latest threat in June, Mr Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: “Numerous European Countries have been discussing the imminent implementation of a Digital Services Tax on American Companies.
“Some of these countries are close to actually doing this.
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Some → write → this
“Please let this statement serve to represent that any Country that imposes such a Tax will immediately be met with a 100% TARIFF on any and all Goods sent to the United States of America.”
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that → let → America
Despite the tension between the two governments over the issue, Mr Greer told The Times that he had a good relationship with the UK’s business and trade minister Jonathan Reynolds.
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he → tell → minister
He said: “We’ve had very constructive relationships, we’d love to keep talking to them about this issue.
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we → say → issue
The president is quite serious about digital services taxes all over the world, we’ve had Canada roll back one, we’ve had other countries decline to move forward.
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countries → have → one
“We have a handful of countries in Europe and the UK who have these in place, so we’re interested in seeing those eliminated.
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those → have → place
We’re always happy to talk to our UK counterparts about the best way to do that.
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We → ’re → that
In July, the US imposed new tariffs on 60 countries, with European Union states seeing tariffs reduced from 15 per cent to 10 per cent.
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tariffs → impose → cent
Britain’s 10 per cent tariff remained the same.
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tariff → remain → ?
It led to the head of the British Chambers of Commerce voicing fears the UK had lost its comparative advantage against the EU, with the UK exporting more to the US than to any other single country.
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UK → lead → country
