Blab Tech
US Lawmakers Urge Trump to Counter EU Digital Rules Targeting American Tech Firms
On July 21, 2026, sixteen members of the U.S. House of Representatives sent a letter to President Donald Trump demanding action against what they characterize as discriminatory European Union (EU) digital policies that disproportionately hit American technology firms.
The letter, posted by Representative Pat Harrigan of North Carolina on X, calls on the president to wield “every available tool” to push back against the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) and related regulations. Harrigan’s tweet argues that the EU “doesn’t get to punish American innovation while expecting unlimited access to the American market.” The signers contend that the DMA’s thresholds and enforcement mechanisms target U.S. firms while leaving European and Chinese competitors largely unimpeded.
Key concerns raised in the letter include:
Gatekeeper designation for cloud services – The EU announced on June 25 that Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure would be classified as gatekeepers under the DMA, marking the first time the act’s reach extends into cloud infrastructure. Potential fines for non‑compliance – The letter notes that the EU is preparing to impose the largest DMA fine ever on Google, even though the company has reportedly taken steps to comply. Specification proceedings – The signers warn that ongoing DMA specification proceedings could undermine U.S. intellectual‑property rights, privacy protections, and the security of U.S. operating systems. Cloud & AI Development Act – The proposed EU legislation would bar American firms from competing for portions of the EU’s public‑sector cloud and artificial‑intelligence market.
According to the letter, these actions force U.S. companies to downgrade their products, surrender intellectual property, or open proprietary platforms and sensitive systems to competitors that have not invested in building them.
The letter also urges the president to consider imposing fees or restrictions on European companies operating in the United States if the EU does not resolve the issues promptly. It stresses that “the EU’s access to the U.S. market is not guaranteed and can be limited should the EU continue to pursue discriminatory acts, policies and practices in the digital sector.”
The EU’s response, reported in August, emphasized that its rules are designed to apply broadly to all companies operating within the bloc. The Commission stated that the DMA and Digital Services Act (DSA) are intended to create a fairer and more contestable digital market for all participants.
The letter is part of a broader push by U.S. lawmakers to counter what they see as an uneven regulatory environment. A group of 25 lawmakers has also written to the president, urging the initiation of Section 301 trade investigations into EU digital regulations.
Industry observers note that the DMA’s gatekeeper criteria include a user base of at least 45 million monthly active users in the EU, a turnover of at least €7.5 billion in the EU, and a global turnover of at least €75 billion. The act imposes obligations such as prohibiting self‑preference, ensuring interoperability, and protecting business users.
The potential impact on U.S. firms is significant. AWS and Azure’s new gatekeeper status could subject them to fines of up to 10 % of worldwide turnover and require compliance with a range of obligations that may alter their service offerings in Europe. Google’s anticipated fine, the largest under the DMA, could reach hundreds of millions of euros.
The letter’s authors argue that these measures, coupled with the Cloud & AI Development Act, create a regulatory environment that disadvantages U.S. companies while granting European firms preferential treatment. They call for a coordinated U.S. response that may include trade investigations, tariff adjustments, or other diplomatic tools.
As of now, the Trump administration has not announced a formal response. The letter remains on record, and its signers have indicated that they will continue to monitor EU regulatory developments and advocate for U.S. interests.
The situation remains fluid. The EU’s DMA enforcement actions are ongoing, and the U.S. government’s stance on trade and regulatory disputes will likely evolve as the administration weighs diplomatic and economic options.
The letter, posted by Representative Pat Harrigan of North Carolina on X, calls on the president to wield “every available tool” to push back against the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) and related regulations. Harrigan’s tweet argues that the EU “doesn’t get to punish American innovation while expecting unlimited access to the American market.” The signers contend that the DMA’s thresholds and enforcement mechanisms target U.S. firms while leaving European and Chinese competitors largely unimpeded.
Key concerns raised in the letter include:
Gatekeeper designation for cloud services – The EU announced on June 25 that Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure would be classified as gatekeepers under the DMA, marking the first time the act’s reach extends into cloud infrastructure. Potential fines for non‑compliance – The letter notes that the EU is preparing to impose the largest DMA fine ever on Google, even though the company has reportedly taken steps to comply. Specification proceedings – The signers warn that ongoing DMA specification proceedings could undermine U.S. intellectual‑property rights, privacy protections, and the security of U.S. operating systems. Cloud & AI Development Act – The proposed EU legislation would bar American firms from competing for portions of the EU’s public‑sector cloud and artificial‑intelligence market.
According to the letter, these actions force U.S. companies to downgrade their products, surrender intellectual property, or open proprietary platforms and sensitive systems to competitors that have not invested in building them.
The letter also urges the president to consider imposing fees or restrictions on European companies operating in the United States if the EU does not resolve the issues promptly. It stresses that “the EU’s access to the U.S. market is not guaranteed and can be limited should the EU continue to pursue discriminatory acts, policies and practices in the digital sector.”
The EU’s response, reported in August, emphasized that its rules are designed to apply broadly to all companies operating within the bloc. The Commission stated that the DMA and Digital Services Act (DSA) are intended to create a fairer and more contestable digital market for all participants.
The letter is part of a broader push by U.S. lawmakers to counter what they see as an uneven regulatory environment. A group of 25 lawmakers has also written to the president, urging the initiation of Section 301 trade investigations into EU digital regulations.
Industry observers note that the DMA’s gatekeeper criteria include a user base of at least 45 million monthly active users in the EU, a turnover of at least €7.5 billion in the EU, and a global turnover of at least €75 billion. The act imposes obligations such as prohibiting self‑preference, ensuring interoperability, and protecting business users.
The potential impact on U.S. firms is significant. AWS and Azure’s new gatekeeper status could subject them to fines of up to 10 % of worldwide turnover and require compliance with a range of obligations that may alter their service offerings in Europe. Google’s anticipated fine, the largest under the DMA, could reach hundreds of millions of euros.
The letter’s authors argue that these measures, coupled with the Cloud & AI Development Act, create a regulatory environment that disadvantages U.S. companies while granting European firms preferential treatment. They call for a coordinated U.S. response that may include trade investigations, tariff adjustments, or other diplomatic tools.
As of now, the Trump administration has not announced a formal response. The letter remains on record, and its signers have indicated that they will continue to monitor EU regulatory developments and advocate for U.S. interests.
The situation remains fluid. The EU’s DMA enforcement actions are ongoing, and the U.S. government’s stance on trade and regulatory disputes will likely evolve as the administration weighs diplomatic and economic options.
