But in comments that are unlikely to mitigate transatlantic tensions in relation to digital regulations, the head of the EU competition, Teresa Ribera, reported later on Wednesday that it will be reduced to large technological companies that violate the Bloc’s antitrust digital rules.
“Of course, I’m going to be courageous,” she said, when she was asked if she was in favor of a strong application of the EU digital market law during an event in Washington, DC “I am bound by law.”
The DMA, which entered into force in 2022, aims to guarantee that the largest technological companies do not make smaller rivals. The European Commission is expected to amend the American companies Apple and Meta, which has Facebook, in the coming days for having allegedly violated the rules of the DMA.
Although these fines are not technically tariff, they are considered to be such by the White House. Trump must announce radical “reciprocal” prices on the EU and in other countries later Wednesday in a set of measures which he described as a “liberation day”.
“The fines under DMA are not linked to the company led by the company in Europe,” said Ferguson, appointed by Trump. “It is starting to look like DMA is a bit like a form of taxation of American companies.” To fall into the category of what the European Commission calls a “goalkeeper” and therefore be captured by the DMA rules, digital platforms must meet certain income and user number criteria in the EU.
Ferguson’s words echo a note published last month by Trump, in which he said that the DMA would face a meticulous examination and could lead to reciprocal prices. The United States should also target EU regulations which it consider as non-tariff barriers, including DMA.
