Customs duties and AI regulations divide the EU and the US. The Trump administration is setting conditions
The European Union must soften its approach to US technology companies if it wants to strike a trade deal with the United States – This is the position expressed by Howard Lutnick, the US Secretary of Commerce, on Wednesday. In an interview with CNBC, he also emphasized that strict EU regulations on artificial intelligence generate significant costs for the European economy.
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EU under US pressure on technology and tariffs
US Trade Minister Howard Lutnick, in an interview for CNBC, touched on the negotiations with EU officials that took place in Brussels. As he noted, the talks mainly concerned the reduction of tariffs on steel and aluminum, as well as potential actions regarding technology and artificial intelligence. Lutnick emphasized that the European Union is interested in concluding a trade agreement, but in his opinion it must soften its approach to American technology giants.. As he explained, in trade negotiations it is crucial to achieve a balance between the parties.
The Minister of Trade described his talks with EU officials, pointing out that one of the main topics were tariffs on steel and aluminum. He recalled that the July agreement between the US and the EU was aimed at reducing trade tensions and setting tariffs at 15%. However, the implementation of this agreement is progressing slowly, and some provisions are still awaiting approval by the European Parliament.
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Criticism of EU AI regulations and the role of Trump's tariffs
Lutnick also referred to EU regulations on artificial intelligence, which, according to him, generate high costs for the European economy. The minister criticized these regulations, suggesting that abolishing them could attract more investment in Europe. In an interview with CNBC, Lutnick pointed out that during negotiations with Great Britain, he drew attention to the potential benefits of loosening regulations in this area. In his opinion, adopting less restrictive rules, similar to those introduced by the Donald Trump administration, could significantly increase investment in technology.
One of the topics raised by Lutnick was also the issue of tariffs imposed by the Donald Trump administration on the basis of the IEEPA Act. The minister assured that even if the Supreme Court finds these tariffs illegal, the administration has other tools to maintain them. He also expressed his belief that the Supreme Court would make a decision favorable to the Trump administration, which would allow the continued use of these tariffs as a negotiating tool in trade talks, including with the European Union.
Read also: Costco Goes to Legal War with the Trump Administration. The company is demanding a refund of the duties, and billions of dollars are at stake
