Key facts
- The European Commission responded to U.S. President Donald Trump's threats of tariffs on EU countries.
- EU and U.S. officials are holding talks in Washington regarding their digital relationship.
- The EU asserts its sovereign right to regulate economic activities within its territory.
- The U.S. has accused EU tech laws of unfairly targeting American firms.
- The EU recently proposed measures to reduce reliance on U.S. technology.
- The U.S. partially lifted export restrictions on Anthropic's AI models.
The European Commission has pushed back against U.S. President Donald Trump's recent threats of imposing new tariffs on European countries that implement digital service taxes on American tech companies. This response comes as EU and U.S. officials convene in Washington for talks aimed at improving their strained digital relationship.
A delegation, led by the EU's top tech official Roberto Viola, is in Washington for discussions on a potential future dialogue concerning digital matters. The U.S. president had previously voiced his threats on social media, and the U.S. State Department characterized recent EU efforts to enhance tech sovereignty as 'protectionist.'
Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier affirmed the EU's clear stance, emphasizing the bloc's sovereign right to regulate economic activities within its territory and pledging a swift response to any unilateral U.S. measures. Since Trump's return to office, the U.S. administration has increased criticism of EU tech laws, alleging they unfairly target American firms. Andrew Puzder, Trump's envoy in Brussels, previously stated Washington's desire to include EU tech rules in the ongoing dialogue, citing concerns about their burdensome nature for U.S. companies.
The EU executive recently introduced legislative proposals to decrease Europe's dependence on U.S. technology, which is viewed as a strategic vulnerability. These proposals aim to foster European tech champions and potentially restrict U.S. players from sensitive public-sector markets. A U.S. State Department spokesperson commented that 'protectionist measures in upcoming EU tech sovereignty laws risk undermining our partnership,' referencing a trade deal that mandates the elimination of non-tariff trade barriers.
The U.S. also recently moved to partially lift export restrictions on Anthropic's advanced AI models, a decision that generated backlash in Europe and heightened concerns about potential U.S. control over critical AI technologies. Regnier indicated that the issue of foreign access to AI models might be discussed during the week's meetings, stating, 'We believe that we are a trusted partner, not a security risk.' Preparatory documents reveal that the talks will cover artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, online child protection, connectivity, chips, and digital trade.