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Ottawa Backs Down on Digital Tax Dispute Amid Pressure from Trump White House

Canada has reportedly agreed to delay its planned digital services tax (DST) following pressure from former U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, according to a recent statement from the White House. The tax, which was originally slated to target tech giants like Amazon, Meta, and Google, had been a major sticking point in U.S.-Canada trade discussions. The White House claimed Canada “caved” to U.S. demands after months of negotiations, with Trump’s team arguing the tax unfairly targeted American firms. The Canadian government, however, framed the delay as a strategic move to preserve economic stability and avoid retaliatory tariffs. Critics within Canada argue that the government’s decision reflects a growing trend of yielding to U.S. economic influence, while others say the delay is pragmatic given ongoing global talks about a coordinated approach to taxing digital revenues. The issue remains contentious, and observers are watching closely to see whether Canada will revive th...

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Canada Orders Hikvision to Cease Operations Amid National Security Concerns

In a decisive move underscoring growing scrutiny of foreign technology firms, the Canadian government has ordered Chinese surveillance equipment manufacturer Hikvision to shut down its operations in Canada. The decision, announced by Industry Minister Mélanie Joly, follows a national security review conducted under the Investment Canada Act.

The review, informed by intelligence from Canada’s security agencies, concluded that Hikvision’s continued presence posed a threat to national security. As a result, the company must cease all business activities within the country. Additionally, federal departments, agencies, and Crown corporations are now prohibited from purchasing or using Hikvision products. A government-wide audit is also underway to identify and remove any legacy equipment.

Hikvision, headquartered in Hangzhou, China, has faced international criticism for its alleged role in human rights abuses in China’s Xinjiang region. The company has denied these allegations and expressed strong disagreement with Ottawa’s decision, calling it “unjustified” and “lacking in transparency.”

While the order does not extend to Hikvision’s operations outside Canada, Minister Joly encouraged Canadians to consider the government’s findings when making personal technology choices.

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