Section 301 Investigation Into French Taxes Won't Necessarily Lead to Tariffs, Wiley Rein Lawyers Say

Two Wiley Rein lawyers blogged July 11 that the Section 301 investigation into French taxation of digital services is not a twin to the 301 investigation of China's abuses of the trading system. "This is not the start of a trade war with France," Stephen Claeys and Timothy Brightbill wrote. There will not necessarily be tariffs on French goods as a result of this investigation, they said. The U.S. trade representative could enter into negotiations with France, restrict service sector access for French firms, or take other actions short of tariffs.