[BrandoElFollito]

> so in that case you would need to avoid touching anything that is based in the US

This does not change much: a, say, French company is bound to follow US regulations anywhere (including in France, not to mention abroad) because the US would punish any interests of this company in the US.

This was the case with Iran, and with others.

If you are mid-to-small compared to the US/China, you are bullied.

If you are very small (like a blog or local newspaper) you may not give a fuck.

[antonyh]

I don't think the French government care much because the EU gives them more bargaining power. If they were bound beyond political pressure then we'd have French or EU embargos against Cuba for the last 60 years. France doesn't stand alone nor does the UK despite leaving the EU, which is why I object to US foreign policy spilling over political borders via internet-based tech companies.

[BrandoElFollito]

We (France) had contracts in Iran. The US decided that Iran is bad.

So far so good.

Then the US said that everyone must leave Iran, and if they do not, their presence in the US will be harmed and they will not be allowed to trade in USD.

We asked the EU for help. The EU said that this is really [bad|unfriendly|unethical|immoral|whatever] of the US to behave that way and that we are, collectively, definitely offended. But that they cannot help.

So we left Iran, together with the rest of EU companies.

---

This is just one example of the extraterritoriality that the US does, without any special concerns for international law or relations. One could say "[US|China]are big and strong so they rule", which is true. Not the kind of relationship I would like to have on a personal level.

We frown at bullies in everyday life, but accept this on a national scale.

[mrguyorama]

The US only has this power because everyone relies on the USA to do everything. Stop relying on the US and we can stop caring about how the US treats the rest of the world.

Being gay is illegal in some parts of the world but my gay friends don't care because they don't do business with those countries, don't participate in any commerce that does business in those countries, etc. Your country will cease being bound by US law when you cease to rely on the US for whatever.

[tut-urut-utut]

It's easier said than done. It would be good if USA would stop to push that reliance using its military power, economic power, media and soft power, open and covert intelligence operations with the only purpose to extend its power and influence around the world.

If USA starts treating other countries in a biblical "don't do to others what you don't like to be done to you" sense, the world would be a much better and safer place for everyone.