A group of 25 Republican US lawmakers has urged President Donald Trump to take action against the European Union’s digital regulations, which they say unfairly target American technology companies. In a letter sent this week, the lawmakers focused on the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), legislation designed to limit the dominance of major tech firms such as Amazon, Apple, Booking Holdings, ByteDance (owner of TikTok), Google, Meta Platforms, and Microsoft.
The lawmakers criticized the DMA for imposing regulatory burdens on US companies that they argue are not faced by European or Chinese competitors, particularly pointing to the potential inclusion of Amazon and Microsoft’s cloud services under the EU's rules. They also raised concerns over the European Commission’s forthcoming fine against Google for alleged breaches of the DMA, contending that the penalty fails to acknowledge the company’s recent modifications to its search service.
Additionally, the letter questioned the Commission’s designation of Apple, Meta, and Amazon as “gatekeepers” under the DMA framework while Chinese companies such as Temu and AliExpress have been excluded. The gatekeeper status depends on user numbers within Europe, which the lawmakers argue creates an uneven playing field.
The lawmakers described the EU’s approach as “anti-competitive acts, policies, and practices” used as tools of economic extraction and regulatory coercion against American firms. They urged the Trump administration to engage in dialogue with European regulators but warned that if this does not yield results, the US should consider invoking Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. This statute allows the US to impose tariffs or other retaliatory trade measures in response to unfair practices.
In their letter, the lawmakers emphasized the need for reciprocity, stating that the EU’s access to the US market should not be taken as a given and could be restricted if discriminatory policies against US digital firms continue. They highlighted that European businesses generally enjoy unfettered access to the American market, underscoring what they see as an imbalance in treatment.
The European Commission, which maintains that its rules are meant to ensure fair competition and do not single out any country, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Commission has previously defended the DMA as a means to create a level playing field across the digital market by addressing the outsized influence of major platforms.
The developments signal heightened tensions between the US and EU over technology regulation, with US lawmakers advocating for stronger measures to protect American tech companies amid ongoing transatlantic differences on digital policy.