"Stop harassing big tech"…U.S. warns it will retaliate against EU

The European Union (EU) expanded regulations targeting U.S. big tech, and the United States warned it would take retaliatory measures.

On the 16th (local time), according to the Financial Times (FT), Jamison Greer, United States Trade Representative (USTR), criticized via X (formerly Twitter) that "the EU persists in a pattern of discriminatory and harassing lawsuits, taxes, fines, and guidelines against U.S. service providers." He noted that European companies enjoy free operation and fair competition in the United States.

Greer warned that if EU regulation continues, the U.S. would have no choice but to take corresponding measures. He said, "We may consider several measures such as imposing fees and restrictions," and explicitly named European companies. Germany's DHL, SAP and France's Capgemini were included. FT noted, "Greer unusually specified European companies," and "these companies could face disruptions to their U.S. operations if the United States imposes sanctions."

The U.S. warning of a hard-line response to the EU is interpreted as a result of the EU recently regulating U.S. big tech under the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA). Earlier this month the EU fined X €120 million for violating advertising transparency rules. In response, U.S. Vice President JD Vance strongly protested, saying, "The EU should support freedom of expression rather than attack American companies over pathetic issues."

Reporter Han Myung-hyun wise@hankyung.com