Brussels Faces U.S. Pressure to Roll Back Digital Laws in Trade Talks
President Trump is intensifying pressure on Brussels to reconsider its stringent digital regulations, particularly the Digital Markets Act (DMA), as he links compliance to favorable trade terms and the lifting of U.S. tariffs—even threatening consequences if the EU refuses .
Trump officials argue EU fines—like the €500 M penalty on Apple and €200 M on Meta under DMA—amount to “tariffs” and unfair trade barriers . The National Security Council has condemned these as “economic extortion,” signaling they might become a talking point in the July trade negotiations .
Brussels is pushing back. EU Commission Vice-President Henna Virkkunen and MEP Stéphanie Yon‑Courtin have emphasized that DMA enforcement is sacrosanct—and not for bargaining . “Putting the DMA on hold to placate the United States would be an unacceptable capitulation,” Yon‑Courtin warned .
The dilemma: with a July 9 deadline looming to avoid expanded 50% tariffs on EU goods, Brussels fears concession equals a slippery slope on digital sovereignty . Meanwhile, some member states press for shielding sensitive sectors, though the Commission downplays selective exemptions .
Adding complexity, critics highlight Europe’s concentration on U.S. cloud infrastructure—a digital vulnerability that could widen Trump's leverage .
Adedayo Obadina
Talksocialtalks
