EU Council Chairman calls for a determined answer to US trade pressure!

EU Council Chairman calls for a determined answer to US trade pressure!

On April 3, 2025, Jakob Schwarz, the budget and industrial policy spokesman for the Greens, calls for a determined and uniform European answer to the aggressive trade policy of the United States. In a current comment, he makes it clear that the EU should work with the United States on a basis for negotiations to find a solution. If this does not succeed, Schwarz sees the urgent need to take action, especially against large US tech companies, to put pressure on the government under Donald Trump. The EU imports relatively few physical goods from the USA, but the influence of the US service providers, especially through companies such as Apple and Google, is considerable.

Schwarz criticizes that these companies have deducted capital and talents from Europe over two decades. Their settlement in Ireland has tightened the internal European tax competition and thus gave the European social systems enormous financial losses. The political influence of the US tech companies that act with their huge profits should not be underestimated. Therefore, a intended European digital tax is regarded as a means to put pressure on the Big Tech and the White House.

Digitization and Big Tech under pressure

The challenges of US technology companies are not only present in the political discussions, they also arouse concern within the EU about possible reactions from the United States. For example, Mark Zuckerberg criticizes the digital regulations of the EU, which in his opinion institutionalized and disabled censorship. This bitter argument went hand in hand with high fines, which the EU imposed on the corporations. In the past ten years, the fines add up to over $ 30 billion, an amount that Zuckerberg compares with a kind of secret tax. This development could lead to further tightening of transatlantic relationships, such as the Brussels Report

Ongoing Investigations against companies such as Apple, Google and Meta among the new EU regulations, including the Digital Markets Act and the Digital Services Act, are part of the efforts to tame Big Tech's power. Under these regulations, fines of up to 6% of the annual global turnover of a service provider can be imposed in the event of violations. In addition, there is criticism that the EU's competition supervision is politicized and inconsistent, especially under the former EU commissioner Margrethe Vestager.

transatlantic relationships and customs threats

The context of the disputes between the EU and the USA is also shaped by Donald Trump's re -elected presidency after the elections in November 2024. In the European Parliament, the effects of this choice were discussed on transatlantic relationships. Leading EU MPs confirmed their commitment to transatlantic cooperation and strengthening these relationships.

In a debate between MEPs, representatives of the Council and the European Commission on February 12, 2025, the customs threats of the Trump government were discussed. Political voices such as that of the Polish Minister of European Affairs Adam Szłapka pointed out the advantages of an open, regular international trade. At the same time, Maroš Šefčovič from the European Commission expressed sharp criticism of the US tariffs, which are harmful to companies and consumers. Bernd Lange, Chairman of the Committee on International Trade, emphasized the possibility of counter -tariffs and emphasized the need for measures to deter them against tariffs.

Developments in the trade relationship between the EU and the United States are not only a challenge for European industrial policy, but also require a quick and superior action by the EU to secure their position in the global market and to expand capacity for digital innovations.