Ottawa announced it was rescinding a tax on technology firms generating revenue from Canadians just hours before it was to take effect in an effort to move forward trade negotiations with the United States.

Canada scrapped its controversial digital services tax after President Trump said he was suspending trade talks with Canada last week. President Emmanuel Macron of France criticized tariffs levied by powerful nations as “blackmail.

Canada’s Finance Minister says repealing the digital services tax is key to advancing a broad economic and security deal with the US after talks broke down.