Trump Wants a World Without Digital Tariffs: The U.S. Aims to Dominate the Global Economy

President Donald Trump’s administration has launched an ambitious initiative designed to secure tariff-free access for U.S. tech giants to global digital markets. Washington has signed new digital trade agreements with Malaysia, Cambodia, and Thailand, binding these nations not to impose digital taxes or restrict U.S. companies such as Amazon, Google, Meta, or Microsoft.

The U.S. Seeks a Permanent Global Ban on Digital Tariffs According to the White House, the United States is moving to make the WTO moratorium on digital tariffs permanent, which until now has been renewed every two years since 1998. The agreement prevents countries from imposing customs duties on cross-border digital transfers of data, software, books, movies, and games. Malaysia has further pledged not to require U.S. social media and cloud providers to pay into local digital funds, granting Washington a clear advantage. Andrew Wilson of the International Chamber of Commerce hailed the move as “crucial for strengthening free digital trade,” but warned that it may contradict the global data localization trend — the idea that nations should keep their digital infrastructure and data within their own borders.

Digital Trade Now Worth Over $33 Trillion According to UN data, global exports of digital services reached $4.77 trillion in 2024, representing a 10% year-over-year increase.

The total value of the digital services sector now exceeds $33 trillion, making it the fastest-growing segment of global trade. Emerging technologies, especially artificial intelligence, are accelerating digitalization and automation but also fueling concerns about cybersecurity, data protection, and national sovereignty.

U.S. vs. China: The Battle for Digital Influence As China expands its reach in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, the United States is working to define a global “digital order” based on American rules and technology. Trump’s push for a tariff-free digital trade framework is seen by analysts as a clear attempt to cement U.S. technological dominance. “Washington wants a world where American technologies and platforms set the standards,” said Martina Ferracane of Teesside University. The European Union, however, is taking the opposite route — strengthening privacy protections, antitrust enforcement, and digital taxation. France recently doubled its tax on major tech firms, sparking tensions with the White House.

WTO and the Upcoming Battle Over Digital Trade Rules Emerging economies like India and Brazil continue to resist a permanent WTO moratorium, seeking to protect their domestic industries. The upcoming WTO ministerial meeting in Cameroon in 2026 is expected to become a key battleground for the future of global digital trade. Meanwhile, Washington has warned the EU that its new Digital Markets Act (DMA) and Digital Services Act (DSA) could damage transatlantic relations if not revised. U.S. companies such as Apple and Meta argue that European regulations stifle innovation and restrict freedom of expression.

Conclusion: A Borderless Digital Economy? The Trump administration makes no secret of its ambition to build a global, tariff-free digital economy that would strengthen American corporations and reshape international trade rules.

While Europe and Asia fight for data control, the United States envisions an open, dollar-backed, tech-driven digital ecosystem.

If Washington succeeds, the U.S. could gain a decisive edge in the world’s new “digital race.”

#TRUMP , #AI , #blockchain , #USPolitics , #economy

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