The European Commission has warned that it will take countermeasures if the United States implements unilateral tariffs in response to EU digital regulations or digital services taxes. U.S. President Donald Trump recently renewed threats of tariffs against EU member states that impose digital service taxes on American technology firms.
The escalation came as EU and U.S. officials were holding talks in Washington. A delegation led by Roberto Viola, the European Commission's director-general for technology, is meeting with American counterparts through Wednesday to try to mend strained digital ties. The Commission described the meetings as a "dialogue about a possible future dialogue" with U.S. partners.
Thomas Regnier, a spokesperson for the Commission, stated that the European Union and its member states have the sovereign right to regulate economic activities on their territory. He added that if Washington were to introduce unilateral measures against lawful EU policies, the EU would respond quickly and firmly.
At the same time, the U.S. State Department has criticized EU initiatives to strengthen technological sovereignty as protectionist, arguing that rebuilding the bilateral partnership should focus on deregulation and cooperation on artificial intelligence and semiconductors.
Tensions were also aggravated by Washington's partial lifting of export restrictions on the latest artificial intelligence models from Anthropic, which reportedly possess significant cyber-attack capabilities. That move drew strong reactions in Europe and amplified concerns about a potential technological "killswitch" that the U.S. might be able to activate.
According to Politico, the Washington talks cover issues including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, protection of minors online, network connectivity, semiconductors, and digital trade. The dispute is also shaped by the European Commission's recently unveiled legislative package intended to reduce Europe's reliance on American technology; elements of that package — designed in part to give member states tools to exclude certain U.S. actors from sensitive public-sector markets — have been criticized by the United States as protectionist.
Overall, the disagreement underscores that the transatlantic tensions over technology are more than rhetoric: the EU insists on its regulatory sovereignty and signals readiness to take retaliatory measures if the U.S. responds to lawful EU policies with unilateral trade restrictions.
Timeline highlights
- June 2026: Roberto Viola-led EU delegation is in Washington for talks.
- June 27, 2026: Politico reported the recent tariff threats.
- June 6, 2026: The EU unveiled its technology sovereignty legislative package.
- June 3, 2026: Related announcements on the EU's sovereignty-protection measures.
Tags: European Union, Donald Trump, technology, European Commission, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, protectionism, sovereignty, United States, semiconductors
