US Lobbying Surrounding EU DSA Regulations Meets Resistance from European Commission: "Our Regulations Should Not Be Negotiable"
In 2025, the contentious dispute between the US and EU over the Digital Services Act (DSA) remains unresolved. The US government, particularly under the Trump Administration, has been vocal in its opposition to the EU’s DSA, citing concerns that it imposes burdensome regulations on American tech companies, threatens free speech, and unfairly targets US platforms[1][2].
Vice President JD Vance added to this criticism in February, stating that dismissing concerns is the most surefire way to destroy democracy[2]. The EU’s DSA, introduced in 2023, governs how platforms handle disinformation and other online issues[1].
The enforcement of the DSA has become entangled in political and trade disputes, as illustrated by the European Commission’s pause in its investigation into Elon Musk’s X’s compliance with the DSA. This stalling appears linked to the broader transatlantic trade and regulatory conflict fueled by the US administration’s "America First" agenda and its vocal lobbying against the DSA[3].
Recent US-EU trade talks have temporarily averted tariff escalations that could have worsened the dispute, but they have not resolved the core regulatory disagreements underlying the DSA conflict[4][5]. The US threatened 30% tariffs against EU goods, and potential EU countermeasures affecting US exports, but a recently announced trade framework agreement in late July 2025 avoided the immediate imposition of these tariffs[4][5]. However, the agreement lacks a binding legal text, leaving uncertainties over future enforcement and regulatory cooperation.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has reportedly ordered US diplomats to oppose the EU’s Digital Services Act[6]. Rubio’s underlings have been told to focus on building support to repeal or amend the DSA or related EU or national laws restricting expression online[7]. Rubio’s underlings in Europe have been instructed to regularly argue against the DSA and the costs it imposes on American companies[8].
The State Department has further slammed the EU's Digital Services Act as "Orwellian," reflecting the Trump administration's antipathy towards the EU's DSA since at least February[9]. The dispute remains unresolved with enforcement actions against Elon Musk’s X currently stalled, reflecting broader political and economic conflicts affecting US-EU digital regulatory relations.
References: 1. EU's Digital Services Act 2. Vice President JD Vance's Criticism of the EU's Digital Services Act 3. European Commission Pauses Enforcement Case Against Elon Musk's X 4. US-EU Trade Talks Avert Tariff Threats 5. Uncertainties Remain Over Future Enforcement and Regulatory Cooperation 6. Secretary of State Marco Rubio Orders US Diplomats to Oppose the EU's Digital Services Act 7. Rubio's Underlings Told to Focus on Building Support to Repeal or Amend the DSA 8. Rubio's Underlings in Europe Instructed to Regularly Argue Against the DSA 9. State Department Slams the EU's Digital Services Act as "Orwellian"
In the ongoing dispute over the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), US politics has played a significant role, with the Trump Administration and Vice President JD Vance voicing opposition to the regulation, citing concerns about its impact on free speech and American tech companies [1][2]. Moreover, the US government's policy and legislation regarding AI, war-and-conflicts, general news, and crime-and-justice have intertwined with this regulatory disagreement, as evidenced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordering US diplomats to oppose the DSA and work towards its repeal or amendment [6][7]. The stalemate in the enforcement of the DSA, as seen in the European Commission's pause in its investigation into Elon Musk’s X’s compliance, is a reflection of the broader political and economic conflicts affecting US-EU digital regulatory relations [3].
