Zuckerberg lobbied Trump on digital service taxes before EU tariff showdown: Report

Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg privately met President Donald Trump at the White House last week to discuss concerns over digital service taxes, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday.

As per the report, the Facebook co-founder and the US President discussed digital service taxes, which are levies imposed on revenues that technology companies generate from users in specific countries.

For Meta, which relies heavily on advertising targeted at users of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, digital taxes have become a big concern.

Days after the meeting, Trump threatened to impose "substantial" tariffs on countries that have digital levies, calling them discriminatory against American technology companies.

"Digital taxes and related regulation harm and discriminate against American technology, while giving a complete pass to China’s largest Tech Companies," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The president added that he would impose "substantial" tariffs and even restrict exports of US semiconductors unless countries rolled back what he described as "discriminatory actions."

"I will stand up to Countries that attack our incredible American Tech Companies," Trump said on Monday.

WASHINGTON PUSHES BACK AGAINST TECH LEVIES

Trump’s threat reignited a dispute that has dogged transatlantic relations for years. US officials have consistently objected to digital service taxes, arguing they disproportionately target American tech giants -- Meta, Amazon, and Google parent Alphabet.

"President Trump has repeatedly and consistently opposed digital services taxes and other unfair measures against American technology companies," White House spokesman Kush Desai said in a statement. "The Administration has repeatedly and consistently raised these concerns in trade negotiations with other countries, including the EU."

Several European countries -- including France, Italy, Austria, Spain, and the UK -- have introduced digital service taxes in recent years. Although rates and thresholds vary, the measures usually apply to revenues that large online platforms earn from users in those markets.

The European Union has defended the taxes, saying they ensure global tech companies contribute fairly to local economies.

Since Trump’s return to power, Zuckerberg has sought to repair a previously hostile relationship. Trump once labelled the Meta CEO a "criminal" and threatened to jail him.

In recent years, Zuckerberg has adjusted company policies and made repeated visits to the White House and Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. Meta also contributed $1 million to Trump’s inauguration, which Zuckerberg attended.

Zuckerberg has also expanded his footprint in Washington, buying two neighbouring homes near the Naval Observatory, the residence of Vice President JD Vance, and appointing several Trump allies to roles within Meta and its board.

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