France calls for global agreement as US freezes tariffs over tech tax

The US government argues that the French tax unfairly targets American companies (Tim Ockenden/PA)

France’s government has breathed a sigh of relief after the US indefinitely delayed tariffs on French wine, cosmetics and other goods designed as retaliation for a French tax on technology giants.

The US Trade Representative’s office said in a statement that it suspended the tariffs targeting France, which had been scheduled to enter into force this week, because it is investigating similar tech taxes from a growing number of other countries too.