MANILA, Philippines — Finance Secretary Ralph Recto said the government has neither discussed nor considered granting exemptions for United States technology firms from the Philippines’ newly implemented digital services tax, despite threats of retaliatory tariffs from President Donald Trump.
Recto: No exemption for US tech firms from digital tax, This news data comes from:http://www.erlvyiwan.com
“We don’t even know how serious they are on any of that. There have been no communications to us. So there’s nothing to communicate,” Recto told reporters on the sidelines of the Senate hearingon Tuesday, stressing that exemptions for American companies are not yet on the table.
Trump recently warned that countries imposing digital taxes on US technology firms would face “substantial additional tariffs” on exports to the US, along with possible export restrictions on “highly protected technology and chips.”
The Philippines began enforcing its digital tax law in June, which subjects nonresident digital service providers such as Netflix, Amazon, and Google to the country’s 12-percent value-added tax (VAT).

Recto: No exemption for US tech firms from digital tax
- House suspends DPWH budget deliberations pending submission of changes by agency, DBM
- Marcos inspects rock shed project in Benguet
- US appeals court blocks Trump's use of wartime law for deportations
- Globe partners with unconnected.org to provide remote schools with sustainable internet connectivity
- Sotto willing to testify in Senate probe of flood control anomalies if summoned
- Escudero urges list of unfundable projects for 2026 budget
- Four children killed by parents in Dominican Republic — police
- Zelenskyy seeks talks with Trump and European leaders on slow progress of peace efforts with Russia
- Police brutality fuels soaring tensions in Indonesia
- Fire breaks out in Manila residential area