Wichita Standard

Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kansas) has expressed his support for President Donald Trump's recent directive to the US Trade Representative to investigate Digital Services Taxes (DSTs) under section 301. In a statement, Rep. Estes emphasized the need for bipartisan efforts to counter what he describes as discriminatory taxes imposed by foreign governments on U.S. innovators.

"There should be bipartisan support for pushing back against discriminatory taxes from foreign governments that target U.S. innovators," stated Rep. Estes. He further added, "We've seen foreign treasuries attempt to pad their coffers by going after U.S. dollars, which needs to end now." He praised President Trump for reopening investigations from his previous administration and initiating new ones concerning countries using DSTs in ways he believes harm the U.S. economy.

Rep. Estes has been a vocal critic of DSTs, particularly highlighting Canada's decision in 2024 to implement a tax on digital services retroactively from January 1, 2022. In March 2023, he collaborated with then-Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Michigan) to introduce a resolution condemning foreign DSTs following an inquiry about them during a Ways and Means hearing with Ambassador Tai.

His opposition dates back several years; in 2019, Rep. Estes published an op-ed addressing France's DSTs and later responded with a letter to the editor regarding French Minister of the Economy and Finance Bruno Le Maire's Wall Street Journal op-ed in 2020.