American negotiators came to Brussels to discuss why the July agreement, intended to prevent a trade war, is being implemented so slowly. That agreement included, among other things, an import tariff on a large portion of European exports.
In those talks, Washington once again linked tariffs to other American demands. The United States wants Europe to adjust certain rules of its own, especially in the fields of digital platforms and environmental policy. Lower or more lenient American tariffs will only be considered if the EU is willing to ease or roll back these rules. For the EU, this is a sensitive point: the digital and green laws are seen as sovereign powers that must not be influenced by other countries.
This approach provoked strong reactions, especially from European politicians who speak of "blackmail" or "extortion." They accuse the United States of using economic pressure to force political and legal concessions. The message Europe is sending is that such rules are not up for negotiation.
The EU considers its digital rules DMA and DSA as a form of sovereignty. Laws against abuse and harmful practices on digital platforms are, according to Brussels, a choice made independently. The EU asserts that these must not be exchanged for trade advantages or lower tariffs.
The United States and various American tech companies complain about the way Europe imposes rules on behavior and business on the internet. They view the European approach as unfair or excessive, especially when high fines or strict obligations are imposed on companies such as Google, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, and X.
At the same time, the consequences for European agriculture and the food chain play a clear role. Trade measures from both the United States and China directly affect European agri-food products. These conflicts are further fueled because trade with the United States is closely intertwined with dealings with China.
The EU, the US, and China are all discussing new agreements amid concerns about Chinese overcapacity, steel production, export promotion, and economic pressure. This complicates the EU's position: it tries to protect trade while simultaneously facing great power politics from multiple sides.