European countries slam US withdrawal from tech tax talks

THOMAS ADAMSON

Associated Press

PARIS (AP) — European countries are slamming the Trump administration's withdrawal from negotiations over a major tax on big tech companies.

French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, speaking on France Inter, called it a "provocation" and said France will still implement the tax regardless of the U.S. change of heart.

Le Maire was referring to a letter in which U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told the finance ministers of France, Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom that he was suspending talks on the tax.

"This letter is a provocation. It is a provocation a...