Washington  — The US trade representative's office said on Tuesday it was launching an investigation into digital services taxes adopted or under consideration by a number of US trading partners, in a move that could lead to new punitive tariffs.

“President [Donald Trump] is concerned that many of our trading partners are adopting tax schemes designed to unfairly target our companies,” US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said in a statement. “We are prepared to take all appropriate action to defend our businesses and workers against any such discrimination.”..

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