'We are ready to discuss digital rules with the US but cannot wipe out rules,' EU trade chief says

Published connected 30/04/2026 - 18:26 GMT+2•Updated 18:50

Fresh from Washington aft respective days of talks with US counterparts, EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič told Euronews the EU and the US are discussing a caller forum connected integer legislation, pursuing months of unit from Washington.

Under the Trump administration, the White House has stepped up calls for Brussels to standard backmost integer rules it sees arsenic barriers for US Big Tech firms operating successful Europe.

So far, the European Commission has refused to reopen its flagship tech laws, which it says are designed to support consumers and guarantee just competition.

“We cannot springiness thing that concerns our legislation, but we are acceptable to talk,” Šefčovič said. “What we some request is simply a integer dialogue.”

Washington has repeatedly targeted the EU’s Digital Services Act, aimed astatine tackling amerciable content, and the Digital Markets Act, which seeks to curb abuses of marketplace dominance, portion reiterating that it sees integer authorities arsenic discriminatory.

Washington acceptable retired easing those rules arsenic a information earlier reducing US tariffs connected alloy and aluminium, which person remained astatine a punitive complaint of 50% since June 2025.

While some sides struck a broader commercialized woody past summertime — mounting US tariffs connected astir EU goods astatine 15% — alloy and aluminium were excluded from the woody adjacent arsenic the European manufacture urges for a solution to what it calls a prohibitive rate.

Chinese overcapacity arsenic communal concern

On integer regulation, Šefčovič said the EU and US stock “very communal tasks” successful respective areas, including online information and just competition. In caller months, the EU has shifted its strategy by stressing areas of practice alternatively than fines connected tech companies.

“What bash we privation — and what bash we not privation — appearing connected screens for our children? How bash we guarantee just contention among operators successful the integer market?” helium said.

However, helium noted that Washington has small involvement successful reviving the EU-US Trade and Technology Council, which was acceptable up nether the Biden medication to dainty disputes but has go obsolete nether Trump administration.

Šefčovič told Euronews the US medication does not look funny successful a "formal structure” and favours nonstop talks connected circumstantial issues.

Still, immoderate perceived flexibility from Brussels connected integer issues has yet to construe into advancement connected alloy and aluminium, contempt the contented topping past week’s agenda.

“We inactive person a problem. That’s precise clear,” Šefčovič said.

In his sojourn to Washington, wherever the 2 sides agreed to cooperate connected captious minerals, the EU's commercialized main said helium floated erstwhile again the instauration of a “steel ring”.

“It's the champion solution for some of us, due to the fact that we bash not person a occupation with our communal alloy trade. We person a occupation with excessive capableness hitting planetary markets,” helium said.

The commissioner pointed to rising planetary overcapacity successful alloy and aluminium

“We are facing 720 cardinal tonnes of excess alloy capacity, portion European depletion is 140 cardinal tonnes,” helium said, stressing the discrepancy the EU faces itself.

China remains the world's biggest root of overcapacity for some the US and the EU. Chinese overcapacity was a cardinal origin down President Donald Trump’s determination to enforce sweeping tariffs connected alloy and aluminium imports successful the archetypal place.

Šefčovič added that the EU has besides responded by cutting imports into the bloc by fractional done caller tariffs and quotas, arguing that some sides look the aforesaid concerns.

"We should enactment together," helium said.