Overview

• European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has warned that the EU is ready to impose levies on digital advertising revenues from US tech companies if trade negotiations with the US prove unsatisfactory.
• The EU’s countermeasures are part of a broader response to steep tariffs imposed by President Trump on European goods, which have heightened transatlantic trade tensions.
• The Digital Markets Act, a sweeping EU regulation targeting tech giants, is expected to result in substantial fines for companies such as Google and Apple in the coming days, separate from the trade dispute.
• Von der Leyen emphasized that the EU will not return to the previous status quo in its economic relationship with the US, describing the current situation as a turning point in global trade dynamics.
• The 90-day pause on tariffs initiated by Trump provides a narrow window for negotiations, but EU leaders are preparing to act decisively if talks fail, leveraging tools like the Anti-Coercion Instrument to target US services.