Headlines

Meta's Zuckerberg pressed Trump on digital taxes before tariff threat, Bloomberg News reports

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on August 28, 2025

2 min read

· Last updated: January 22, 2026

Add as preferred source on Google
Meta's Zuckerberg pressed Trump on digital taxes before tariff threat, Bloomberg News reports
Global Banking & Finance Awards 2026 — Call for Entries

(Reuters) -Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg had visited U.S. President Donald Trump last week to discuss the threat of digital service taxes, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday, citing people

Zuckerberg Discusses Digital Taxes with Trump Amid Tariff Threats

Discussion on Digital Taxes and Tariffs

(Reuters) -Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg had visited U.S. President Donald Trump last week to discuss the threat of digital service taxes, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the private meeting.

Trump's Tariff Threats

Days after the meeting, Trump threatened countries that have digital taxes with "subsequent additional tariffs" on their goods if those nations do not remove such legislation.

Meta's Revenue and Business Impact

Meta and the White House did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment on the report.

Global Digital Tax Landscape

Trump's administration is considering imposing sanctions on the EU or member state officials responsible for the Digital Services Act, over complaints that it censors Americans and imposes costs on U.S. tech firms, Reuters reported on Monday.

Many countries, particularly in Europe, have levied taxes on the sales revenue of digital service providers, including Alphabet's Google, Meta, Apple and Amazon.

The issue has been a longstanding trade irritant for multiple U.S. administrations.

The majority of Meta's revenue comes from its core advertising business. The company in July reported revenue of $47.52 billion for the quarter ended June 30, surpassing analysts' average estimate of $44.80 billion.

(Reporting by Juby Babu in Mexico City; Editing by Shreya Biswas)

Key Takeaways

  • Zuckerberg met Trump to discuss digital taxes.
  • Trump threatened tariffs on countries with digital taxes.
  • Meta's revenue is largely from advertising.
  • The US considers sanctions over the Digital Services Act.
  • Digital taxes are a trade issue for the US.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a digital service tax?
A digital service tax is a tax imposed on companies that provide digital services, typically targeting large technology firms that generate significant revenue from users in a specific country.
What is corporate tax?
Corporate tax is a tax imposed on the income or profit of corporations, which varies by jurisdiction and can significantly impact business operations and profitability.
What is Meta's core business?
Meta's core business primarily revolves around digital advertising, generating substantial revenue from ads displayed on its platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
What is the Digital Services Act?
The Digital Services Act is a legislative proposal by the European Union aimed at regulating digital services and ensuring accountability for online platforms.

Tags

Related Articles

More from Headlines

Explore more articles in the Headlines category