Overview
- U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told EU ministers in Brussels that Washington will only address steel and aluminum tariffs if the EU rebalances its digital regime.
- U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer argued EU thresholds and enforcement disproportionately hit American tech firms, saying compliance is difficult and fines are steep.
- EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic and Commission officials rejected linking the files, stressing the bloc’s digital legislation is sovereign and nondiscriminatory.
- Tariffs on EU steel and aluminum remain high, in some cases near 50%, despite a July truce, as both sides still point to China’s overcapacity as the structural problem.
- Hopes for rapid product carve‑outs such as wine or olive oil have faded, while U.S. envoys also met digital vice president Henna Virkkunen after her recent simplification package.