United States President Donald Trump has threatened to impose new tariffs and other penalties on countries that legislate against US tech giants, putting the Australian government on notice ahead of the incoming social media ban for children.
The federal government is pushing through legislation banning children under 16 years old, and is also pushing for digital platforms like Facebook to pay Australian publishers to use their news content under the News Bargaining Incentive.
However, this morning, Trump sent a pointed warning to countries threatening to restrict how American tech companies operate.
"I will stand up to Countries that attack our incredible American Tech Companies. Digital Taxes, Digital Services Legislation, and Digital Markets Regulations are all designed to harm, or discriminate against, American Technology," he said in a post on Truth Social.
"I, as President of the United States, will impose substantial additional Tariffs on that Country's Exports to the U.S.A., and institute Export restrictions on our Highly Protected Technology and Chips."
Major tech companies lobbied against Australia's incoming social media ban for young children, and Google even threatened to sue the federal government when it failed to get an exemption for YouTube.
In June, Canada backed down from its own similar plan to regulate social media, but was still slugged with a 35 per cent tariff by Trump.
However, the federal government has shown no signs of being willing to back down from its position on the social media ban despite Trump's veiled threats.
"The government is committed to our world-first social media laws," a spokesperson told9news.com.au.
Daniel Mulino, the Assistant Treasurer Minister for Financial Services and responsible for the News Bargaining Incentive, was approached for comment.
Several major tech figures have previously thrown their support behind Trump's presidency.
Meta donated $US1 million to Trump's inaugural fund and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg was one of several high-profile attendees at his inauguration, alongside Amazon boss Jeff Bezos and Google CEO Sundar Pichai.
