Report: EU Commission wants to involve US more closely in tech regulation

The transatlantic disputes over the regulation of large technology companies are to be given a new platform: A joint committee between the EU Commission and the US Department of Commerce or the White House could address the multitude of differences of opinion at an early stage in the future.

The US side will also receive information on proceedings under European law, reports Handelsblatt, citing, among others, Jacob Helberg, the Under Secretary of Commerce for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment in the United States. According to the Düsseldorf-based newspaper, Andrew Puzder, the US Ambassador to the EU, is to represent the US side on the committee.

MEPs have sharply criticized the plan. “Our fear is that the implementation of our laws and standards will be called into question by American companies,” criticizes Green MEP Sergey Lagodinsky, for example. “If this is confirmed, it would be nothing less than a capitulation to the pressure and intimidation tactics of the Trump administration.” The EU Commission repeatedly emphasizes that it does not want to change its regulations due to US pressure. However, some of the recently proposed changes in digital legislation, particularly to the AI Act and the General Data Protection Regulation, primarily benefit US companies that are already dominant in the market.

EU: No changes to digital laws

At the same time, no significant changes are currently planned for laws that are particularly criticized by the US, such as the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and the Digital Services Act (DSA). US tech companies such as Google, Meta, or Apple are regularly in the spotlight of legislation due to their size, especially when it comes to competition law issues. Obligations under the DMA have so far affected Google Maps, Apple's App Store ecosystem, and Meta's Whatsapp, among others. In addition, there have been numerous investigations over the years into possible abuses of a dominant market position. The resulting decisions are regularly challenged by the corporations in court – sometimes with more, sometimes with less success.

Since the beginning of Donald Trump's second term, the US side has repeatedly claimed that the EU's digital laws unilaterally and unlawfully hinder the growth of US tech companies and impose special levies on them. The EU side rejects this, pointing out that all companies, regardless of their headquarters, are equally subject to EU law.

Unclear whether committee can reduce disputes

During the presentation of a report commissioned by the House Judiciary Committee, US representatives made serious accusations. In Brussels, the chairman of the US House Judiciary Committee, Jim Jordan, had previously caused confusion during a visit by demanding preferential treatment for US companies.

Jordan regularly accuses the EU of unlawfully restricting freedom of speech. Observers consider these arguments to be pretexts and accuse the Trump administration of distorting legal reality to support far-right allies in Europe. It is therefore unclear whether a joint committee, where the US government could also gain insight into ongoing proceedings, could calm such disputes.

(mma)