EU pushes back as US pressures bloc on digital rules amid trade deal finalisation

The European Union is seeking to prevent the United States from challenging its digital regulations as the two sides work through the final details of a delayed statement formalizing a trade deal reached last month, the Financial Times reported on August 17.

EU officials said that disagreements over language relating to “non-tariff barriers”—which the U.S. considers to include the bloc’s digital rules—are among the factors holding up the statement, the newspaper reported.

The statement had originally been expected days after the July announcement by EU President Ursula von der Leyen and U.S. President Donald Trump. The July agreement imposed a 15% import tariff on most EU goods—half the initially threatened rate—and helped avert a broader trade war between the two allies, who together account for nearly a third of global trade.

Washington has sought to leave room for possible concessions on the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), arguing that the law restricts free speech and imposes costs on U.S. tech companies. The European Commission, however, has made clear that relaxing these rules is a red line.

The DSA is a landmark EU law designed to make the online environment safer and fairer, compelling tech giants to tackle illegal content, including hate speech and child sexual abuse material.

The commission had anticipated that Trump would sign an executive order by August 15 to cut tariffs on EU car exports to the U.S. from 27.5% to 15%. However, a U.S. official indicated that the move would be delayed until the joint statement is finalized, according to the Financial Times.

By Khagan Isayev