Tech companies invoke possibility of Trump’s wrath in fight against Labor’s media laws

Tech giants claim Australia’s free trade agreement with US will be violated as they try to kill a proposal to force them to pay news companies

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Tech companies are invoking Australia’s free trade agreement with the US and threats of Trump administration retaliation in an attempt to kill off the federal government’s proposal to force them to pay news companies.

The news media bargaining incentive is designed to force Meta, Google and TikTok to make commercial deals with Australian media outlets or pay a dedicated 2.25% levy on local revenues.