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Trump threatens new tariffs over 'discriminatory' digital rules [siliconrepublic.com]:

Trump threatens new tariffs over ‘discriminatory’ digital rules Save article

Reports say that punitive measures would likely come in the form of visa restrictions against EU officials.

In a new social media post, US president Donald Trump has threatened countries that “attack…incredible American tech companies”.

Trump threatened [truthsocial.com] “substantial tariffs” on countries with legislations that govern digital services and markets, such as those prominent in the EU. As a repeat target, the Trump administration has claimed, in several instances, that such legislations are designed to harm and discriminate against US technology.

Accusing the “world” of treating US companies as a “piggy bank” and a “doormat”, the president, in addition, warned of further export restrictions on US’ protected tech and semiconductors.

The EU, however, is likely safe from any additional tariffs, as detailed in the recently released deal which stipulated a 15pc, all-inclusive ceiling for EU products [siliconrepublic.com] subject to reciprocal tariffs.

However, sources told Reuters [reuters.com] that the Trump administration was instead considering imposing sanctions on the EU or member state officials responsible for implementing the region’s Digital Services Act (DSA).

They informed the news publication that punitive measures would likely come in the form of visa restrictions against officials, although, the decision is yet to be finalised. It is also unclear which EU or EU member state officials would be targeted.

In a response to Politico [politico.eu], a US state department spokesperson said, “We are monitoring increasing censorship in Europe with great concern but have no further information to provide at this time.”

Several US Big Tech firms have come under EU ire in recent years for breaching the region’s DSA as well as Digital Markets Act.

Earlier this year, Apple was fined €500m [siliconrepublic.com] after the EU Commission found that app developers were unable to inform their customers freely of alternate offers outside the Apple App Store via a “number of restrictions” imposed by the iPhone maker.

While Meta was fined €200m for its ‘pay or consent’ model which required users to either pay or consent to personalised ads.

Predictably, the White House was unhappy with the EU’s decision [siliconrepublic.com], calling the fines a “novel form of economic extortion”.

Although, the fines were reportedly minimal, according to a Financial Times report, which said that the tech juggernauts were fined well below the maximum threshold [siliconrepublic.com] by the EU, all in a bid to avoid furthering tensions with the US.

While the Elon Musk-owned X has been under EU scrutiny since 2023 [siliconrepublic.com] over possible breach of DSA, particularly in areas linked to risk management, content moderation, dark patterns, advertising transparency and data access for researchers.

In its preliminary findings last year, the EU concluded that X is in breach of DSA [siliconrepublic.com] in several areas, finding that the platform’s verification checkmark “deceives” users.

Although, it seems that the US’ threats of tariffs and retaliatory actions has materialised in some success for the country. The Trump administration, via the recent tariff deal, was able to wrangle billions in purchase commitments from the EU, including for $750bn worth of natural gas, oil and nuclear energy products and at least $40bn worth of AI chips.

European companies are expected to invest an additional $600bn across strategic sectors in the US through 2028.

In addition, the EU has promised to increase exceptions and provide additional flexibilities when it comes to implementing sustainability-related taxes and regulations on US SMEs.

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