alt Hacker NewsI'm literally quoting you:
> "American companies pay VAT in Europe. European companies do not pay VAT in US."
VAT is a significant income stream for the EU. They take that money and re-invest it into their economy in an uncompetitive manner, whilst constantly propping up more anti-competitive regulation (which harms American businesses).
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jbeam • 04/03/2025
American companies pay VAT in Europe. European companies pay VAT in Europe.
American companies do not pay VAT in in the US. European companies do not pay VAT in the US.
American companies pay sales tax in the US. European companies pay sales tax in the US.
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Have you looked at EU countries budgets? We "invest" in social security and public health systems. Our defense budgets go in large part to buy arms from the US, and Musk complains if we decide to prop up Arianespace for some defense satellites while threatening to cutoff Starlink for Ukraine paid by Poland. Have you looked at how much money your DoD sends abroad (and how much of it is pork)? You're literally telling us to be more protectionist, and then expect something different.