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   EU gears up for even more tough tech enforcement in 2026 as Trump warns of   
   retaliation   
      
   Date:   
   Mon, 05 Jan 2026 16:45:00 +0000   
      
   Description:   
   US Trade Rep says America might have to use "every tool at its disposal" to   
   counter Europe's "unreasonable measures."   
      
   FULL STORY   
      
   2025 proved to be a heavy year for transatlantic relationships, with Trump   
   taking office in the US and a renewed focus on tech regulation across the   
   European Union increasing tensions between two global superpowers.    
      
   Shifts in how crypto, AI, and data protection regulations have been handled    
   in the EU saw multiple Big Tech fines handed out, with Trump arguing that   
   Europe has targeted US firms in its antitrust investigations.    
      
   However, the US hasn't been without its own upheaval, with rising conflict   
   over whether AI regulation should be handled at a state or federal level   
   emerging in the final weeks of 2025.   
      
   US-EU tech battle could be set to continue   
      
   Widely considered a global leader in digital regulation, 2025 was the year   
   that the EU indicated an intention to reverse and/or simplify some data   
   protection rules in order to encourage AI development.    
      
   In-keeping with its intention to become an AI superpower, Europe spent the   
   year hitting US firms like Google, Apple, and Microsoft with hefty fines,   
   which haven't gone unnoticed by Trump.    
      
   As such, in December, the US threatened new fees and market barriers over    
   what it described as "discriminatory and harassing lawsuits, taxes, fines,    
   and directives against US service providers."    
      
   "If the EU and EU Member States insist on continuing to restrict, limit, and   
   deter the competitiveness of US service providers through discriminatory   
   means, the United States will have no choice but to begin using every tool at   
   its disposal to counter these unreasonable measures," the Office of the US   
   Trade Representative shared in an X post.    
      
   The Trade Representative went as far as naming specific European companies   
   that have "enjoyed [the] expansive market access" that is the US, including   
   Accenture, Capgemini, DHL, Mistral, SAP, Siemens, and Spotify.    
      
   The US has imposed travel restrictions on certain EU individuals, including   
   former Commissioner Thierry Breton, which has been seen as a form of   
   retaliation.    
      
   "Our digital rules ensure a safe, fair, and level playing field for all   
   companies, applied fairly and without discrimination," the Commission wrote .    
      
   ======================================================================   
   Link to news story:   
   https://www.techradar.com/pro/eu-gears-up-for-even-more-tough-tech-enforcement   
   -in-2026-as-trump-warns-of-retaliation   
      
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