Digital publishers expect tech levy to advance despite Trump retaliation fears
A key media lobby group has been assured that work on a planned levy on US tech giants will not be abandoned despite fears of blowback from the White House.
The lobby group for digital publishers has received assurances from the Albanese government that it will advance work on its news bargaining incentive despite mounting concern that Labor has paused its plans over fears of trade retaliation from US President Donald Trump.
Tim Duggan, chair of the Digital Publishers Alliance, told Capital Brief the peak body is operating on the basis that the government will continue work on the policy, which aims to force tech giants to pay news publishers for their content, even as Labor falls behind schedule in the face of a looming federal election.
“We’ve had discussions with multiple government departments this week to confirm that they are continuing to advance the policy they announced recently,” Duggan said.
“I do think that they're aware of the new reality and added complexity that Trump's potential tariffs could bring, but for now everyone is continuing to work on the assumption that it's going to happen.”
