Sovereignty vs. the Market: The Transatlantic Standoff Over Digital Regulation
Amid direct criticism from Washington and Brussels’s unapologetic firmness, digital regulation has become a major point of transatlantic friction. Behind the diplomatic exchanges and the opening of a limited dialogue, a fundamental divergence is taking shape regarding the very role of regulation: an instrument of sovereignty for the European Union, an economic barrier for the United States. Transatlantic relations regarding digital regulation are entering a more transparent—and more tense—phase. Two nearly simultaneous announcements, from the American and European sides,… signal a shift: the disagreement is no longer muted; it is now explicitly stated, while still framed by a minimal willingness to cooperate. In other words, a conflict that is acknowledged but contained. Trade barriers On one hand, the 2026 edition of the U.S. Trade Representative’s report on foreign trade barriers…