Following President Trump's announcement of a 50 percent tariff on the European Union starting June 1, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) has issued a statement through its president, Robert D. Atkinson. The ITIF is recognized as a leading think tank focused on science and technology policy.
Atkinson stated that the Trump administration is justified in opposing the EU's corporate penalties and digital regulations aimed at U.S. technology firms. He remarked, "If threatening to escalate tariffs succeeds in pressuring the EU to revisiting its unfair regulations, then it can be a positive step." However, he warned against maintaining high tariffs, noting that such an approach could cause more harm than benefit.
The original tariffs and subsequent 90-day pause were intended to initiate discussions on addressing imbalances between the two regions. As of now, they are on day 44 of this pause period. Atkinson emphasized that efforts should focus on challenging EU regulations perceived as unfairly targeting U.S. companies under claims of digital sovereignty or consumer protection.
For further insight into this issue, ITIF references Hilal Aka's work titled “EU Regulatory Actions Against US Tech Companies Are a De Facto Tariff System,” published in April 2025.