📋 Tender Overview
April 4, 2025
Mehring suggests digital tax in response to US tariffs
Revenue should strengthen domestic digital economy and classic media
Fast solution based on European neighbors
In response to the trade tariffs announced by US President Trump, Bavarias Digital Minister Dr. Fabian Mehring presented the introduction of a digital tax. This is to focus in particular on the largest international tech giants with annual sales of over 750 million euros and are used as a means of pressure in the negotiations on trade tariffs.
Digital Minister Dr. Fabian Mehring, MdL: A clever answer to Germany to the new American customs policy would be the rapid introduction of a digital tax. We should not stand by and see how the United States wants to cupping us with high tariffs, while American tech companies make billions in this country and almost do not pay any taxes. Especially in view of the planned record badness, the new federal government could strengthen its income by Tech corporations from overseas as ask for our domestic economy.
The regulations in France and Austria, which aim at companies with an annual turnover of over 750 million euros, are a model for the national approach. In particular, the large US companies such as Google, Apple, Meta and Amazon should be taken into account more. As the largest EU country and the most important digital player in Europe, Germany must now act instead of being guided by Trump and its tech oligarchs at the nose ring through the arena. Bavaria has shown by the settlement of tech giants such as Openaai and Tikok in Munich that we are not only an attractive location, but also for the digital future of Germany. To set fair rules of the game for the domestic digital economy, said Mehring.
No additional burden for domestic digital companies
The introduction of digital tax must not burden innovative digital companies in Germany and is to take place in close coordination with the domestic industry. We want to create tax justice, but not an innovation brake for our domestic economy. A digital tax must therefore cushion possible additional loads for our companies, said the minister.
Promotion of domestic media
Based on the model from Austria, part of the proceeds from a digital tax could flow into the promotion of quality journalism. Mehring: We cannot allow global corporations to achieve billions in profits while our regional media companies are fighting for their existence. If the platforms benefit from the work of the classic media, they also have to participate in the income. The introduction of a specific digital tax is therefore also a question of protection of our regional media diversity and free formation, says Mehring. The Bavarian State Ministry of Digital is already strengthening quality media and media diversity with the Bayern Alliance against disinformation in order to actively counter false news. In the alliance, politics, tech companies, the media and civil society are committed to raising broad population for the dangers of targeted manipulation on the Internet.
In addition to the proposal for a digital tax for tech giants, Dr. Mehring also for a greater responsibility of the platform operators in the digital space. He speaks for a duty to deposit real names and identity in order to disclose the identity of users if necessary. In addition, he proposes more transparency in the financial flows on the platforms to prevent unnoticed investments from manipulating public opinion formation.
