US urges Europe to ease big tech regulations

The United States is pressuring the European Union to soften its regulations on major tech companies if it wants reduced tariffs on steel and aluminium exports, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said on Monday.

His remarks come as US and EU officials meet in Brussels to review the trade framework agreed in July, which set US tariffs on certain European goods at 15% — lower than previously threatened — in return for European investment pledges and commitments to open the market to more American agricultural products.

However, key disagreements persist. Despite European expectations of tariff relief for metals as part of the summer deal, the US continues to charge a 50% duty on EU steel and aluminium and has expanded the list of items subject to the levy. Europe is also seeking exemptions for products like wine, cheese, and pasta, similar to the recent tariff rollbacks granted by the Trump administration for tropical fruit and coffee.

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told reporters that Washington expects Europe to reduce tariffs on American goods before granting any further exemptions. He and Lutnick also made clear that tariff changes would depend on concessions regarding Europe’s digital regulations.

Lutnick told Bloomberg Television that the US wants the EU to “reconsider” its digital rules if it wants metals to be included in the negotiations. “They would like to have steel and aluminium as part of this package and we think it is very, very important that they understand our digital companies,” he said.

Washington has long argued that Europe’s digital services taxes unfairly target American tech giants, which dominate revenue from digital advertising and streaming. US companies have also criticized the EU’s Digital Markets Act — introduced last year — which requires major platforms to allow more interoperability, such as Apple ensuring its iPhones work with non-Apple accessories.

Many tech firms had expected President Trump’s return to bolster their pushback against EU digital regulations, contrasting the Biden administration’s more hands-off approach.

European officials, however, say their digital laws are not negotiable. EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič reiterated on Monday that the rules are designed to improve competition, not discriminate against American companies.