Europe Says Tech Regulation Isn’t on the Table in Tariff Talks, Analysts Disagree

‘It’s going to be a cat and mouse game. It depends on who blinks first,’ said Norman Lewis, a former director of technology research at Orange UK.

A person stands in front of a Meta sign outside of the company's headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif., March 7, 2023. Jeff Chiu/AP Photo

The European Union and the United Kingdom have ruled out the use of Big Tech regulation—seen by the Trump administration as a threat to free speech and U.S. innovation—as a bargaining chip in potential trade and tariff negotiations.

Meanwhile, some analysts are convinced the continent’s internet controls and anti-competitive laws remain in play, as trading partners and nations scramble to strike deals during the 90-day tariff pause announced on April 9.