[hx833001]

Many Americans do not like foreign governments attempting to take control of American corporations by government fiat. For instance, the EU insisting they can steal money from Apple based on its global revenue, rather than EU revenue, is obscene.

[seszett]

> the EU insisting they can steal money from Apple based on its global revenue, rather than EU revenue, is obscene.

To be clear, fining is not stealing except in some kind of liberal dystopian fantasy.

And fining based on global revenue is necessary because it's all too easy otherwise to artificially shift revenue between various places to evade these kind of fines.

The fine is limited by law to 10% of global revenue, and the EU market is more than 10% of Apple's revenue, so there's nothing particularly egregious here. Also, obviously Apple is not forced to do business in the EU if they don't like the rules.

[hx833001]

You can attempt to justify this bureaucratic overreach to yourself if you wish, but an American company should not have its global revenue taxed by foreign governments. Future American administrations more interested in protecting American profits will ensure this is the case.

[ginko]

This is not a tax it's a fine.

Many countries have fines relative to the income of the perpetrator. If you get caught speeding as a tourist in Norway do you expect to get away without having to pay anything since you don't have an income in Norway?

[rblatz]

Profit and expenses can be shifted. I’m not aware of how they can shift revenue.