Bern rejects tax on US tech giants

Bern has confirmed that it will not impose a tax on the big US tech firms such as Google and Amazon.

It’s thought the decision is linked to recent discussions with the US about reducing the tariffs on Swiss exports to 15%. 

The announcement has triggered criticism across the political spectrum, with opponents warning that Switzerland is giving up a key tool to make tech giants contribute fairly. 

Some fear the move could even undermine a separate plan to impose a fee on social media firms designed to protect users from inappropriate content or bullying. 

The Federal Council insists that digital-platform regulation is not part of negotiations with Washington.

More from Bitesize News

  • Cross border gun burglaries

    French criminal networks are recruiting teenagers on Snapchat and TikTok to break into Swiss gun shops and feed the black market across the border

  • Crans Montana fire warning ignored

    New evidence in the Crans-Montana fire inquiry shows the bar's operators warned their own staff about the danger of firework candles, then kept using them anyway

  • Vaud financial support in question

    Three-quarters of the Vaud companies that received state financial support in 2025 did not actually need it to carry out their projects, a damning audit by the cantonal Court of Audit has found

  • US voting deadline approaching

    Americans living in Switzerland have less than a month to vote in the US midterms on 3 November

  • Man wins Lausanne court case

    The Federal Court has struck down the Ville de Genève's rule forcing city employees to live near the capital

  • SBB reports increase in incidents

    Staff on Switzerland's rail network face around ten incidents of abuse or threat every working day, with insults, racist comments and physical attacks all on the rise since the pandemic

Download our app

  • Available on the App Store
  • Available on Google Play