【By Observer Net, Wang Kaiwen】U.S. President Trump has once again launched a fierce attack on foreign digital regulation.

On the evening of August 25 local time, Trump posted on his self-created social platform "Truth Social," complaining that foreign digital-related legislation is "targeting" U.S. tech companies and "allowing" Chinese companies, and threatening to retaliate against relevant countries with tariffs and export controls.

Trump did not name specific countries or regions, but the outside world generally believes his remarks are targeting the European Union. Foreign media such as Bloomberg pointed out that Trump has long criticized the EU's anti-monopoly regulations against American tech giants. Just earlier on the 25th, media reported that the U.S. plans to sanction European officials who implement the EU's Digital Services Act.

The South China Morning Post noticed that as Trump threatened tariffs on foreign digital regulation, calls for the EU to use its "trade bazooka"—the EU's counter-coercion mechanism—have increased. However, analysts point out that it is difficult for EU countries to reach consensus on this issue.

"American companies are not doormats"

"As President of the United States, I will stand up against countries that attack America's outstanding tech companies," Trump wrote in his post on the 25th. "The so-called digital tax, digital service legislation, and digital market rules are all designed to harm or discriminate against American tech companies."

Trump claimed that these laws and regulations "completely let off China's largest tech companies," and said, "This situation must end, and it must end immediately."

He also warned countries that have implemented digital taxes and enacted related laws: "Unless these discriminatory measures are canceled, as President of the United States, I will impose high tariffs on products exported to the U.S. from these countries, and restrict the export of highly protected U.S. technologies and chips."

"America and American tech companies are no longer the world's 'ATM' or 'doormats'. Please respect America and our outstanding tech companies. Otherwise, be prepared to face the consequences," Trump wrote.

Trump did not specify who he was attacking, but the U.S. has repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction with the EU on digital regulation issues recently.

Local time July 27, 2025, Tambellup, Scotland, U.S. President Trump met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Oriental News

Since 2022, the EU has introduced the Digital Markets Act and the Digital Services Act successively, aiming to regulate the order of the digital market and limit the unfair competition behavior of tech giants. In December 2023, Elon Musk's social media platform X became the first super-large platform investigated by the EU under the Digital Services Act.

In April 2025, reports indicated that the EU accused X of violating the provisions of the Digital Services Act regarding the combat of illegal content and false information, and planned to impose a fine exceeding $1 billion; in the same month, EU regulators found that Apple and Meta, two American tech giants, violated the EU's Digital Markets Act, and imposed heavy fines on them respectively.

Trump has long been dissatisfied with the EU's digital-related legislation, complaining that it harms the interests of American tech companies. In February this year, Trump signed a memorandum warning to review the EU's Digital Markets Act and Digital Services Act to protect American companies from "foreign extortion".

EU: Not Targeting Any Country

Several EU officials rejected the U.S. accusations on the 26th.

Paula Pinheiro, Chief Spokesperson of the European Commission, stated, "Regulating economic activities that conform to our democratic values within our territory is the sovereign right of the EU and its member states."

"The Digital Services Act does not consider the color, jurisdiction or owner of a company," said Thomas Rieniets, Spokesperson for Technology Affairs at the European Commission. "The Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act apply to all platforms and companies operating in the EU, regardless of where they are established."

Sabine Wieczorek, Director-General of the Directorate-General for Trade of the European Commission, stated at a meeting on the 26th that the EU "clearly understands the concerns of previous U.S. governments regarding our regulatory measures."

She pointed out, "We have always made it very clear that our regulations are non-discriminatory, and we will implement them according to the decisions of democratic institutions. This cannot become a bargaining chip for negotiations with other countries. This will not change."

In recent times, relations between the Trump administration and the EU have become tense over tariff negotiations and other issues. The EU has repeatedly emphasized that the Digital Markets Act and the Digital Services Act involve sovereignty decision-making and legislative autonomy, and are not included in trade negotiation topics.

The U.S. and the EU announced a trade agreement on July 27, but the specific details of the agreement were only published last week. Reuters previously reported that the delay was due to differences between the two sides on "non-tariff barriers" related wording, including digital rules. The Financial Times reported that the U.S. hoped the EU's Digital Services Act would show leniency towards American tech companies, but the EU considered it an inviolable red line.

However, according to the joint statement issued by the U.S. and the EU on August 21 regarding the trade agreement, both sides pledged to "resolve unreasonable digital trade barriers."

It is worth noting that early on the 25th, Reuters cited a report stating that the Trump administration was considering sanctions against European officials responsible for implementing the EU's Digital Services Act.

Local time August 18, 2025, Washington, D.C., U.S., President Trump held a multilateral meeting with visiting European leaders at the White House. Oriental News

"This will be an unprecedented action," Reuters commented. Analysts point out that while trade partners often complain about each other's "unfair restrictions," it is extremely rare to sanction government officials because of such restrictions.

According to sources, U.S. officials held internal meetings last week on the issue, and the form of sanctions may be to restrict the visas of the relevant personnel, but the U.S. State Department has not yet decided whether to proceed with this punitive measure, nor is it clear which EU or EU member state officials the action targets.

"It seems that Trump will continue to pressure the EU to make concessions," the South China Morning Post commented.

EU Preparing "Trade Bazooka"

The South China Morning Post on the 25th quoted Holger Hestermeyer, Head of the Department of International Law and EU Law at the Vienna School of Diplomacy, saying that the trade agreement is just the beginning, "Trump's tough methods to achieve his goals will continue, including threatening to impose new tariffs. If leaders want to maintain their regulatory autonomy, they must be firm."

The report said that Trump's interference in the EU's digital regulations, as well as his threats to impose tariffs and implement export control measures, have led to increasing calls within the EU to activate the "counter-coercion" mechanism against Washington.

"In response to Trump's recent attempts to interfere with our laws, Europe must show that we are ready to use the 'bazooka'—the counter-coercion tool—to prevent certain goods or services from entering the EU market," said Irish member of the European Parliament Barry Andrews from the center-right party "Renew Europe."

French Member of the European Parliament Marie-Pierre Vedrine said that the EU "can no longer tolerate people who use tariffs as a weapon of blackmail," and "it's time to activate the counter-coercion tool in the face of such threats."

The EU's Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI) came into effect at the end of 2023, allowing Brussels to take official economic countermeasures when the EU or its member states are subjected to external coercion. Many regard it as a "nuclear option," but the measure has never been used so far.

According to the report, major European powers including Germany and France have publicly expressed support for activating the clause, but it faces a long legal process. Some diplomats doubt whether it can obtain sufficient broad support.

A senior diplomat from a major EU member state said, "This should be a straightforward matter, but unfortunately, even if (European Commission President) von der Leyen has the courage to propose using this tool, I still don't see hope for consensus among member states."

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