BRUSSELS — The European Commission on Tuesday defended the bloc’s right to set and enforce its own tech rules, after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose new tariffs on countries with digital policies he considers “discriminatory.”
“It is the sovereign right of the EU and its member states to regulate economic activities on our territory, which are consistent with our democratic values,” European Commission spokesperson Paula Pinho said during an afternoon briefing.
Trump, in a post on Truth Social, threatened to “impose substantial additional Tariffs” and place export restrictions on technology and chips to countries with digital rules he deemed to be discriminatory to American companies.
“As the President of the United States, I will stand up to Countries that attack our incredible American Tech Companies, ” Trump said. “America, and American Technology Companies, are neither the ‘piggy bank’ nor the ‘doormat’ of the World any longer. Show respect to America and our amazing Tech Companies or, consider the consequences!” he railed.
The Trump administration and some of its tech allies have repeatedly attacked the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), its flagship social media platform regulation, accusing the bloc of censorship and claiming the law would impose costs on U.S. companies.
The DSA regulates major online platforms, search engines and e-commerce. Services with more than 45 million EU users — including Facebook, Instagram and TikTok — must assess and limit risks like misinformation and harm to minors, according to the legislation.
This story is being updated.
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