{"id":2525685,"date":"2025-12-28T05:11:01","date_gmt":"2025-12-28T10:11:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/looking-back-on-trumps-crusade-against-tech-regulations-abroad\/"},"modified":"2025-12-28T05:16:50","modified_gmt":"2025-12-28T10:16:50","slug":"looking-back-on-trumps-crusade-against-tech-regulations-abroad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/looking-back-on-trumps-crusade-against-tech-regulations-abroad\/","title":{"rendered":"Looking back on Trump&#8217;s crusade against tech regulations abroad"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Flooking-back-on-trumps-crusade-against-tech-regulations-abroad%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2525685&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>President Trump adn his administration pushed back strongly this year against foreign digital regulations that they say discriminate against U.S. tech firms, using trade threats, visa bans, and the prospect of investigations or tariffs.<\/p>\n<p>The dispute with the European Union centers on the Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA). The DSA targets platform content moderation, while the DMA restricts dominant &#8220;gatekeepers.&#8221; The EU fined Apple more than $585 million and X about $140 million under those regimes. In response the U.S. imposed visa bans on several officials (including Thierry Breton), signaled possible retaliation, and threatened Section 301 trade investigations and tariffs if EU rules continue to harm American companies.<\/p>\n<p>South Korea has pursued DMA-like measures as well. A U.S.-South Korea trade understanding was salvaged after Trump met President Lee Jae Myung, producing a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/top-house-republicans-pledge-investigation-into-irs-whistleblower-allegations\/\" title=\"House GOP Vows Probe Into IRS Whistleblower Claims\">joint statement promising<\/a> non\u2011discrimination, but Seoul appears to be moving forward with its legislation. The USTR canceled meetings with Korean regulators and Congress held hearings criticizing Korean proposals and the Korea Fair Trade Commission. U.S. officials have warned of trade consequences if Korea&#8217;s actions violate the agreement.<\/p>\n<p>The administration has used a mix of diplomatic pressure (Commerce and USTR officials), public warnings, and targeted sanctions to try to roll back or limit foreign digital rules. The article concludes that further action is likely if the EU, south Korea, or other partners continue policies viewed as unfair to U.S. tech companies.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Looking back on Trump&rsquo;s crusade against tech regulations abroad<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2450461\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>As foreign countries aggressively imposed digital fines and regulations on American <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/technology\/\">technology<\/a> companies this year, President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> fought back by leveraging his <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/trade\/\">trade<\/a> powers through the threatened use of tariffs and other means.<\/p>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/european-union\/\">European Union<\/a> and South Korea were two of the most blatant offenders in this regard. Here are all the relevant details to know about the pushback they faced from Trump on tech regulations:<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/technology\/3918939\/artificial-intelligence-jobs-optional-musk-altman\/\">AI leaders suggest &#8216;optional&#8217; work on horizon: Why it might just be a pipe dream<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-european-union\">European Union<\/h2>\n<p>Central to the dispute between the United States and the EU are the latter&rsquo;s Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act. Both laws enforce hefty fines, but they operate in different ways.<\/p>\n<p>The Digital Services Act primarily moderates the content on online platforms to prioritize user safety, while the Digital Markets Act aims to prevent <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/big-tech\/\">Big Tech<\/a> companies from abusing their market dominance.<\/p>\n<p>Apple, one of the tech firms classified as a &ldquo;gatekeeper&rdquo; under the Digital Markets Act, was fined over $585 million in April for allegedly restricting app developers from directing users to alternative offers outside Apple&rsquo;s App Store. The practice violated the Digital Markets Act&rsquo;s anti-steering obligation. Meta was similarly fined for violating a different Digital Markets Act rule.<\/p>\n<p>By December, the 27-member bloc invoked the Digital Services Act for the first time by <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/business\/3908444\/eu-fines-x-140-million-risking-trump-administration-ire\/\">fining X<\/a> over $140 million. The Trump administration has since ramped up pressure on the EU.<\/p>\n<p>Two days before Christmas, Secretary of State <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/marco-rubio\/\">Marco Rubio<\/a> announced that his department placed U.S. visa bans on five individuals who he said were &ldquo;agents of the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >global censorship-industrial complex<\/a>.&rdquo; One of the five people targeted was Thierry Breton, a former EU commissioner and architect of the DSA.<\/p>\n<p>The U.S. action followed through on Rubio&rsquo;s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SecRubio\/status\/1996974377003319667\">Dec. 5 warning<\/a> that the &ldquo;days of censoring Americans online are over&rdquo; shortly after <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/elon-musk\/\">Elon Musk&rsquo;s<\/a> X was fined.<\/p>\n<p>Other top administration officials have made statements pressuring the EU to drop its tech regulations.<\/p>\n<p>U.S. Trade Representative <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jamieson-greer\/\">Jamieson Greer<\/a> recently warned that the U.S. may retaliate against European companies if the EU upholds its policies that disproportionately harm American companies operating in Europe. Sweden&rsquo;s Spotify was one of the EU service providers that were threatened by the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ustr\/\">USTR<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, Greer raised the possibility of a trade investigation under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 that would scrutinize the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/white-house-releases-list-of-president-trumps-accomplishments-and-it-is-historic\/\" title=\"White House Releases List of President ...\u2019s Accomplishments \u2013  And It Is Historic!\">unfair trade practices<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Commerce Secretary <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/howard-lutnick\/\">Howard Lutnick<\/a> also pressed Brussels during his November visit to Belgium&rsquo;s capital, where he pushed the EU to roll back its tech regulations if the bloc wants lower tariffs on steel and aluminum.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4361557\/european-leaders-erupt-us-travel-ban-officials-digital-services-act\/\">EUROPEAN LEADERS ERUPT OVER US TRAVEL BAN OF OFFICIALS INVOLVED IN DIGITAL SERVICES ACT<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Writing on Truth Social in August, Trump <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/posts\/115092243259973570\">threatened to impose<\/a> &ldquo;substantial additional&rdquo; tariffs on countries that continue to discriminate against U.S. tech companies unfairly. While Trump did not name any one country engaging in such discrimination, his warning against the EU was all but understood.<\/p>\n<p>The EU has made very little progress in changing its digital policies since then.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-south-korea\">South Korea<\/h2>\n<p id=\"h-south-korea-south-korea-similarly-implements\">While <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/south-korea\/\">South Korea<\/a> is actively pursuing Digital Markets Act-like legislative proposals to regulate dominant online platforms, the U.S. is exerting increasing pressure on the key trade ally.<\/p>\n<p>Following the president&rsquo;s tariff warning concerning digital regulations, the trade deal between the U.S. and South Korea was left hanging in the balance. The deal was later finalized after negotiations made headway in late October when Trump personally met South Korean President Lee Jae Myung during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit.<\/p>\n<p>A <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/fact-sheets\/2025\/11\/joint-fact-sheet-on-president-donald-j-trumps-meeting-with-president-lee-jae-myung\/\">joint fact sheet<\/a> on the Trump-Lee bilateral meeting says both countries acknowledge that &ldquo;U.S. companies are not discriminated against and do not <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gallego-becomes-first-democrat-to-back-border-bill-to-expand-cbp-hiring-washington-examiner-gallego-backs-border-bill-to-expand-cbp-hiring\/\" title=\"Gallego becomes first Democrat to ... border bill to expand CBP hiring - Washington Examiner Gallego ...s border bill to expand CBP hiring\">face unnecessary barriers<\/a> in terms of laws and policies concerning digital services, including network usage fees and online platform regulations.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>However, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/tech\/2025\/11\/28\/south-korean-regulators-threaten-u-s-korea-trade-understanding-with-anti-american-tech-crackdown\/\">recent reports<\/a> suggest South Korea is proceeding with legislation on dominant platforms anyway. If South Korea is found in violation of the trade agreement, the Trump administration could take further action beyond tariffs.<\/p>\n<p>Like the EU, South Korea is facing a possible Section 301 trade investigation if it does not stop discriminating against U.S. companies. Greer has not followed through on the threat yet.<\/p>\n<p>Illustrating Greer&rsquo;s uncompromising stance on the matter, the USTR recently canceled a planned meeting with South Korean officials precisely because of their digital proposals. The administration is framing these proposals as nontariff trade barriers.<\/p>\n<p>Congress has also taken an interest in foreign tech regulations, with lawmakers urging the administration to apply pressure on Seoul to reverse course on the digital platform legislation.<\/p>\n<p>The House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust held a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/judiciary.house.gov\/committee-activity\/hearings\/anti-american-antitrust-how-foreign-governments-target-us-businesses\">Dec. 16 hearing<\/a> on the matter, partially focusing its attention on Korean regulations.<\/p>\n<p>Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/darrell-issa\/\">Darrell Issa<\/a> (R-CA), a member of the subcommittee, echoed the administration&rsquo;s concerns about South Korea&rsquo;s unfair discrimination against U.S. tech giants. In making his point about the Korean government&rsquo;s problematic regulatory attitude, the congressman <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=gvyE7EqNFzw\">pointed to a quote<\/a> from the Korea Fair Trade Commission head that showed his disdain for Americans and the U.S. more broadly.<\/p>\n<p>As the country&rsquo;s antitrust regulator, the KFTC is responsible for initiating unannounced raids at American firms over alleged unfair business practices. Coupang, a U.S. online retailer similar to Amazon that primarily operates in South Korea, is one such company facing this type of scrutiny.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3846300\/us-tech-firms-face-growing-scrutiny-south-korean-antitrust-regulator\/\">US TECH FIRMS FACE GROWING SCRUTINY FROM SOUTH KOREAN ANTITRUST REGULATOR<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Robert O&rsquo;Brien, a former national security adviser during Trump&rsquo;s first term, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.chosun.com\/english\/world-en\/2025\/12\/24\/EPUIGBYGN5BP3CG2LAUQAB2CME\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">recently warned<\/a> Seoul will face severe trade repercussions if Coupang remains a target of Korean investigations. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fact-check-does-amazon-accept-dogecoin-as-payment\/\" title=\"FACT CHECK: Does Amazon Accept Dogecoin As Payment?\">e-commerce company<\/a> is dealing with the aftermath of a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/incyber.org\/en\/article\/south-korea-data-breach-exposes-33-7-million-coupang-accounts\/\">massive data breach<\/a> involving 33.7 million users. The KFTC is <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/english.hani.co.kr\/arti\/english_edition\/e_national\/1235986.html\">considering <\/a><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/english.hani.co.kr\/arti\/english_edition\/e_national\/1235986.html\">suspending<\/a><\/span>  Coupang&rsquo;s business operations, among other sanctions.<\/p>\n<p>It remains to be seen what steps the Trump administration will take next, but action is surely guaranteed if South Korea proceeds with anti-American regulations in violation of its trade deal with the U.S.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trump fights EU, South Korea over tech rules<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2159,"featured_media":2525686,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25246511311278.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[61970,48419,3634],"class_list":["post-2525685","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-international-policy","tag-tech-regulation","tag-trump"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25246511311278.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2525685","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2159"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2525685"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2525685\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2525690,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2525685\/revisions\/2525690"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2525686"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2525685"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2525685"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2525685"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}