AMSTERDAM, April 1 - A senior U.S. State Department official said on Wednesday that the imposition of repeated fines by the European Union on American companies represents the largest single economic source of tension between the United States and the EU. He specifically cited enforcement actions tied to the bloc's Digital Markets Act, which targets dominant digital platforms.
"The biggest single source of friction in the U.S.-EU relationship from an economic standpoint is the recurrent fines, very onerous punitive fines instituted on U.S. companies," Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth Jacob Helberg said on a call with journalists. He added that Washington was watching reports that suggested another round of such fines could be forthcoming.
Helberg made the remarks while on a European visit intended to broaden economic engagement, advance collaborations in emerging technologies and advocate for what the United States describes as a fair regulatory framework. During his trip he said he held constructive discussions with officials at the European Commission.
Those Commission talks included conversations about European companies that are significant participants in global supply chains. Helberg said the importance of these companies to worldwide production networks presents opportunities for deeper transatlantic cooperation.
Helberg emphasized that addressing regulatory sources of tension would allow joint initiatives to move more quickly. "I believe we would be moving a lot faster if we didn’t also have to simultaneously address the sources of friction that directly stem from the DMA," he said.
Helberg also said he will meet with executives at ASML, the Dutch chip-equipment group that is Europe’s most valuable firm, on Thursday. When asked about whether the U.S. government is satisfied with existing U.S.-Dutch controls on ASML’s exports to China, he declined to answer.
Summary
A senior U.S. State Department official identified EU fines—particularly actions under the Digital Markets Act—as the principal economic friction between the U.S. and the EU. He noted concern over reports of further fines, described efforts to deepen economic and technology ties during a Europe visit, said talks with the European Commission were productive, and confirmed a planned meeting with ASML executives while declining to comment on export-control satisfaction.