U.S. Files Formal Objection to EU Draft Space Act, Citing Discrimination and Security Risks

Overview

• The U.S. submission says the rules appear targeted at large American firms and would impose unacceptable burdens, including what it calls unbalanced environmental and cybersecurity requirements.
• Washington highlights a provision allowing non‑EU launch providers only when no EU alternative exists, characterizing the clause as effectively discriminatory.
• The critique warns the draft’s national‑security carve‑out is insufficient, risking military cooperation, data sharing, and system interoperability with EU, ESA and related partners.
• State says the response was coordinated with the Commerce Department, other agencies, trade groups, and more than 70 companies with current or prospective business in Europe.
• The European Commission defends the plan as creating a single market with common safety, sustainability and cybersecurity rules, as Parliament begins debate ahead of a potential Council vote.