Digital Markets Act Becomes Flashpoint in EU-US Trade Negotiations

European officials have drawn a firm red line around the bloc’s Digital Markets Act, rejecting American demands for modifications to regulations affecting major US technology companies. Commission President von der Leyen declared that changes to the DMA remain completely “off the table” during trade negotiations, highlighting how digital governance has become central to transatlantic commercial disputes.
The DMA represents European attempts to regulate the market power of major technology platforms, requiring companies like Apple, Google, and Amazon to implement specific competitive practices within EU markets. American negotiators view these regulations as discriminatory barriers targeting US companies, while Europeans frame them as necessary consumer protection measures.
This disagreement illustrates broader tensions over digital sovereignty and regulatory jurisdiction in the modern economy. The United States continues attacking EU tech regulations alongside criticism of European VAT rules, viewing both as non-tariff barriers that unfairly disadvantage American companies in European markets.
Von der Leyen’s uncompromising stance reflects European determination to maintain regulatory autonomy even under intense trade pressure. She emphasized that while traditional tariff negotiations remain viable, attempts to influence “sovereign decision-making processes” within the European Union cross unacceptable boundaries that could undermine European political independence.