GLOBAL
PC: U.S. and Brazilian Groups Denounce Trump’s Tariff Shakedown to Benefit Big Tech
Today, Public Citizen and Data Privacy Brasil jointly submitted public comments to the United States Trade Representative’s investigation of certain Brazilian laws and practices, which could potentially result in additional tariffs on top of the current 50% tariffs on Brazil.
“This investigation is nothing but a fig leaf to attempt to justify the illegal tariffs President Trump has placed on Brazil to further his authoritarian political agenda and line the pockets of his Big Tech benefactors,” said Melinda St. Louis, Global Trade Watch Director at Public Citizen. “We urge the U.S. Trade Representative to resist being used as a political tool, as this charade threatens the legitimacy of genuine investigations carried out by the USTR under this statute.”
“It should not be illegal to regulate the tech sector in Brazil. We believe the investigation’s motives are technically weak, especially the allegations regarding digital public infrastructure and personal data protection institutions,” said Rafael Zanatta, co-director of Data Privacy Brasil. “We hope that our joint contribution can redirect the unilateral punitive approach and create stronger foundations for a fair decision by the USTR.”
Politico: Trump threatens ‘substantial’ new tariffs against countries with ‘discriminatory’ digital rules – Eliza Gkritsi and Jacob Wendler
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday threatened to "impose substantial additional Tariffs" and stop selling tech and chips to countries with digital rules he deems discriminatory to American companies. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said: "I put all Countries with Digital Taxes, Legislation, Rules, or Regulations, on notice that unless these discriminatory actions are removed, I, as President of the United States, will impose substantial additional Tariffs on that Country’s Exports to the U.S.A., and institute Export restrictions on our Highly Protected Technology and Chips." The Trump administration and some of its allies in the tech sector have launched repeated attacks on the EU’s Digital Services Act, its flagship social media platform regulation, calling it “Orwellian” and accusing the bloc of censorship. The U.S. government also claims that aspects of the DSA would impose costs on domestic companies.
WSJ: U.S. Trading Partners Race to Secure Exemptions From Trump’s Tariffs – Jason Douglas, Kim Mackrael, Gavin Bade
U.S. trading partners are lobbying the White House for exemptions to sweeping new tariffs that went into force on Thursday, as countries seek ways to muffle the impact on their economies of President Trump’s push to reorder global trade.
The European Union, Japan and South Korea are among those that have agreed pacts with Trump, while behind the scenes their negotiators continue to argue their case with U.S. officials for further relief for prized export sectors. Dozens of exemptions and carve-outs have already been allowed, for products including Brazilian orange juice and Chilean copper.
NYT: Trump Wields Tariffs as a Force in Diplomacy, to Questionable Effect
For Mr. Trump, tariffs are not just about raising revenue for the government or protecting American industries from foreign competition. They are a cudgel to try to get other countries to do as he wishes on matters that are entirely separate from trade, and to punish them when they do not. He has used or threatened them on everything from armed conflict to deportations to legal proceedings tied to his political grievances.
American presidents have typically used financial sanctions targeting specific foreign companies to end certain channels of trade between countries, in hopes that pain changes a government’s behavior. Sanctions have had mixed results at best.
TheGuardian: Trump tariffs are reshaping old alliances as the global south plots its own path – Patrick Wintour
Trump, by contrast, did not initially seem to regard tariffs as a means to nurture any web or alliance. Quite the opposite – they became a raw reassertion of US economic dominance, designed to redress the US historic trade imbalances.
For the most part it appears to have worked – to the extent he has been able to pick off vulnerable US – dependent economies forcing them to lower their tariffs or make vague pledges to invest in the US economy.
But in the past few months Trump’s tactics are starting to produce a discernible political counter-reaction. It is premature to claim tariffs are leading to a full-scale political realignment, but the resistance shown in recent weeks by the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India and China, suggests how Trump’s tariffs might in the medium term backfire, creating an axis of resistance based on the belief that it is possible bypass the power the America’s economy gives the president.
Otherwise left unchecked, Trump’s tariff diplomacy will not just weaken their economies, but destroy their sovereignty.
NYT: These Countries Have Never Trusted America. Trump Is Proving Them Right – Matias Spektor
But while Europe, South Korea and Japan have acquiesced to many of Washington’s demands on trade, India and Brazil are charting a different path that could reshape how developing countries resist American pressure. Rather than giving way in submission or panic, they’re pushing back — and buying time to activate alternative partnerships that have been years in the making, a policy political scientists call strategic hedging. It’s a survival strategy that is helping nations fight back against Mr. Trump, but paving the way for a more fragmented and dangerous world.
Washington today sees foreign policy through the lens of ally or adversary. For emerging economies, this is a false choice. Strategic hedging means cultivating multiple, overlapping relationships that prevent overreliance by any single major power. Think of it as a geopolitical version of portfolio strategy: Just as investors spread risk across assets, nations spread dependency across relationships. The goal isn’t self-sufficiency but rather preserving freedom of action. When alternatives exist, no single partner can dictate terms.
ASIA
Politico: US pushes South Korea on tech antitrust legislation in trade talks – Ari Hawkins
The Trump administration is trying to pressure South Korea to ditch antitrust legislation being considered by the country’s parliament as part of trade negotiations, a sign of how the president is trying to use the threat of tariffs to extract a wide range of concessions.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and other administration officials have asked South Korean trade negotiators not to move forward with major antitrust legislative proposals aimed at regulating online platforms — the South Korean national assembly has floated more than a dozen in recent years. Major tech firms such as Google, Apple, Meta and Coupang have called South Korea’s proposals discriminatory against U.S. firms, while the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which claims to represent millions of businesses, has also expressed concern.
Scroll: Satellites can bridge India’s internet divide, but security and geo-political risks loom large – Jyoti Panday & Saumya Jain
Recognising the potential of satellite internet to bridge the digital divide, the Indian government has opened its satellite Internet market to private operators. However, India’s approach to satellite communications is being shaped by competing imperatives of safeguarding national security, navigating geopolitical trade pressures, and pursuing sovereignty.
In recent months, Starlink has either secured operational authorisations or is on the cusp of receiving approvals in several countries, including India. Starlink’s expansion into new markets has reportedly accelerated due to US officials pushing for regulatory approvals during trade negotiations.
AFRICA
Kictanet: Is taxation pushing International Digital service providers out of Kenya?
Amazon owned Twitch has suspended all monetization for Kenyan streamers effective September 2025, citing “recently imposed regulations” that restrict its ability to support creator payouts. This development represents a significant setback for Kenya’s digital economy and highlights the urgent need for policy recalibration.
This is a simple discussion on the digital taxation regulatory direction Kenya has taken. The aim is to stimulate debate on what path Kenya and developing countries should take.
AllAfrica: Africa Braces for Likely End of AGOA Trade Deal Under Trump – Nita Bhalla
Since returning to office, U.S. President Donald Trump has cut vital aid to Africa and introduced tough new tariffs on many countries’ exports – but another blow may be coming with the expiration of a flagship trade programme.
The Trump administration’s protectionist trade policies have plunged the fate of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) into doubt when it expires in September.
This could have a devastating effect on jobs and incomes in many African nations.
ITA: Kenya seeks trade deal with US ahead of Agoa expiry
Kenya is seeking to strike a new trade deal with the US just weeks before the expiry of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) in September. The renewed push for a trade deal also comes days after a 10 percent tariff imposed on Nairobi’s exports to Washington took effect on August 1.Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui said on Thursday that he had emphasised Kenya’s strong commitment to securing a mutually beneficial trade agreement during a meeting with the US Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer.
EUROPE
FT: EU push to protect digital rules holds up trade statement with US – Alice Hancock, Paola Tamma and James Politi
The EU is trying to prevent the US from targeting the bloc’s landmark digital rules as the two sides wrangle over the final details of a delayed statement that will formalise the trade deal they agreed last month.
EU officials said disagreements over language relating to “non-tariff barriers” — which the US has previously said includes the bloc’s ambitious digital rules — are among reasons for the hold-up of the joint statement.
EC: Questions and answers on the EU-US Joint Statement on Transatlantic Trade and Investment
The Joint Statement defines the new parameters for the EU-US trade relationship and brings back an important measure of stability and predictability in transatlantic trade for the benefit of businesses, workers and consumers on both sides.
The key commitments on both sides include:
- Cooperation on digital trade and on the moratorium on e-commerce customs duties.
What does the EU-US deal mean for European digital regulation (DMA, DSA)?
Nothing. The Joint Statement does not include any commitment on EU digital regulations. We have made it very clear to the US that changes to our digital regulations – the Digital Markets Act and the Digital Services Act – were not on the table.
What does the EU-US deal mean for the digital taxes that some Member States have on their books?
Nothing. The EU-US deal has no impact on Member States’ digital services taxes (DSTs). This is why the Joint Statement does not contain any reference to DSTs.
Politico: EU resists Trump: Tech regulation is our ‘sovereign’ right – Elena Giordano
The European Commission on Tuesday defended the bloc’s right to set and enforce its own tech rules, after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose new tariffs on countries with digital policies he considers “discriminatory.”
"It is the sovereign right of the EU and its member states to regulate economic activities on our territory, which are consistent with our democratic values," European Commission spokesperson Paula Pinho said during an afternoon briefing.
NYT: As Trump Ramps Up Pressure on Digital Rules, Can Europe Resist? – Jeanna Smialek and Adam Satariano
President Trump and the European Union might have struck a trade deal, but tensions between them over technology regulation persist. Mr. Trump offered European leaders a painful reminder of that early on Tuesday morning.
As Europe slept, the American president threatened tariffs and restrictions on countries seen as unfairly regulating U.S. tech firms.
The post does not call out the European Union specifically, but Mr. Trump and other key administration officials have made it clear for months that they are unhappy with how the 27-nation bloc treats big American technology companies including X and Meta.
Politico: EU industry chief warns of US trade deal review if Trump’s tech demands continue – Eliza Gkritsi and Océane Herrero
The trade deal between the European Union and the United States will “have to be reviewed” if the U.S. is serious about its demands for the EU to deregulate its tech sector, the EU industry chief Stéphane Séjourné said on Wednesday.
The Trump White House has been pushing the EU to drop some of these policies since it took office. But their exclusion from the trade deal, a joint statement on which was released last week, was celebrated as a win by the European Commission.
TheGuardian: Deal to get ChatGPT Plus for whole of UK discussed by Open AI boss and minister – Eleni Courea and Kiran Stacey
The boss of the firm behind ChatGPT and the UK technology secretary discussed a multibillion-pound deal to give the entire country premium access to the AI tool, the Guardian has learned.
Sam Altman, a co-founder of OpenAI, talked to Peter Kyle about a potential agreement to give UK residents access to its advanced product.
Kyle dined with Altman in March and April, according to transparency data released by the UK government. In July, Kyle signed an agreement with OpenAI to use AI in the UK’s public services. The non-binding deal could give OpenAI access to government data and lead to its software being used in education, defence, security and the justice system.
Politico: Poland presses ahead with 3 percent digital tax despite Trump threat – Pieter Haeck
The Polish government aims to complete work on a digital tax by the end of the year, despite threats by U.S. President Donald Trump against countries with such a tax. “Work is currently underway to prepare the draft bill, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2025,” a spokesperson for the Polish Digital Ministry said in written remarks shared with POLITICO when asked about Trump’s comments.
TechPolicyPress: Europe Cannot Wait to Fight Trump’s Assault on Democracy – Alexandra Geese
The ink isn’t dry yet on the trade agreement between the EU and the US, which was formalized in a written statement on August 21, weeks after the deal was first announced. On August 25, it is already dead. With a post on Truth Social, US President Donald Trump announced additional tariffs for any country that enforces digital regulation or imposes taxes on US digital companies.
Trump’s latest threat conveys three messages that Europe and the world should pay close attention to. First: It is evident that Trump is not a reliable partner when it comes to trade deals. No amount of flattery or appeasement will guarantee a favorable outcome in the long term. Secondly, US-based tech companies are exerting significant pressure on the US government to ensure that their interests are prioritized. Thirdly, Trump’s objective—which is aligned with the interests of certain US technology companies—is to implement regime change in Europe.
NORTH AMERICA
PC: Deleting Tech Enforcement – Rick Claypool
The Trump administration is punching the delete button on federal enforcement against lawbreaking by Big Tech corporations. Parroting President Trump’s complaints about “weaponized” government, tech executives cast commonsense protections for consumers, investors, and the public as unfair political attacks. Their goal: to derail enforcement by federal agencies charged with protecting Americans from their misconduct. It’s working.
In six months, the Trump administration has already withdrawn or halted enforcement actions against 165 corporations of all types – and one in four of the corporations benefiting from halted or dropped enforcement is from the technology sector, which has spent $1.2 billion on political influence during and since the 2024 elections.
WhiteHouse: Joint Statement on a United States-European Union Framework on an Agreement on Reciprocal, Fair, and Balanced Trade
The United States and the European Union are pleased to announce that they have agreed on a Framework on an Agreement on Reciprocal, Fair, and Balanced Trade (“Framework Agreement”).
The United States and the European Union commit to address unjustified digital trade barriers. In that respect, The European Union confirms that it will not adopt or maintain network usage fees. The United States and the European Union will not impose customs duties on electronic transmissions. The United States and the European Union intend to continue to support the multilateral moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions at the World Trade Organization and seek the adoption of a permanent multilateral commitment.
Reuters: Exclusive: Trump administration weighs sanctions on officials implementing EU tech law, sources say – Humeyra Pamuk
President Donald Trump’s administration is considering imposing sanctions on European Union or member state officials responsible for implementing the bloc’s landmark Digital Services Act, two sources familiar with the matter said, over U.S. complaints that the law censors Americans and imposes costs on U.S. tech companies.
Such a move would be an unprecedented action that would escalate the Trump administration’s fight against what it sees as Europe’s attempt to suppress conservative voices.
Politico: Complying with European data laws could violate US regulations, FTC warns – Alfred Ng
FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson warned U.S. tech companies that abiding by European regulations that water down data privacy could violate consumer protection laws.
In a letter sent to more than a dozen companies, including Alphabet, Apple, Meta and Microsoft, Ferguson warned that weakening security measures like end-to-end encryption or removing posts to comply with international regulations could be considered deceptive or unfair practices under the FTC Act.
JamieRaskin: Debunking Republicans’ Misleading Report on the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA)
On July 25, 2025, the House Judiciary Republicans released their Interim Staff Report, The Foreign Censorship Threat: How the European Union’s Digital Services Act Compels Global Censorship and Infringes on American Free Speech. This interim staff report claims that the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which requires companies to remove illegal content online in a manner similar to U.S. laws on child sexual abuse material and copy written material, is a “comprehensive digital censorship law.” Below we present some of the most misleading distortions and assertions in this Report, as well as the underlying facts debunking these false narratives.
Politico: Jim Jordan invites Nigel Farage to Capitol Hill to bash tech laws – Aaron Mak
House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan is escalating the U.S.’s war over foreign tech regulations with a hearing next week on “European threats to American free speech and innovation” — with nationalist United Kingdom leader Nigel Farage as a witness.
The hearing before the House Judiciary Committee comes in the wake of President Donald Trump threatening punitive tariffs for any countries enforcing tech laws on U.S. companies.
BillBoard: GOP Lawmakers Call Canadian Streaming Rules a ‘Major Threat’ to U.S. Trade Relations – Heather Taylor-Singh
House Republicans are getting involved in Canada’s Online Streaming Act.
In a July 31 letter published by the National Post, 18 GOP members of the House Ways and Means Committee call on President Trump and other officials to pressure the Canadian government to suspend the Online Streaming Act, which they describe as a “major threat” to the trade relationship.
They argue that American streaming services are crucial contributors to the U.S. economy, and that the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)’s decision to require major foreign streaming services to pay 5% of their annual Canadian revenue to Canadian content funds is harmful to digital cross-border trade.
Politico: Trump draws backlash over deal to sell Nvidia export control license – Doug Palmer and Ari Hawkins
President Donald Trump defended a deal he struck with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang to allow the sale of certain semiconductor chips to China in exchange for the company giving the U.S. government 15 percent of the revenue.
News of the deal sparked a backlash from Republican and Democratic lawmakers, as well as former trade officials, who questioned the legality of the move and said it was a misuse of export controls.
NYT: Why Trump’s Pay-for-Play Chips Deal May Not Be the Last – Andrew Ross Sorkin, Bernhard Warner, Sarah Kessler, Michael J. de la Merced and Danielle Kaye
The unusual arrangement between the White House, Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices to collect 15 percent of the tech giants’ revenue on certain chips sold to China continues to raise eyebrows. We dive deeper into that — and look at how such an arrangement might expand to other companies, too.
WSJ: Apple to Announce Another $100 Billion Investment in American Manufacturing – Amrith Ramkumar, Natalie Andrews and Rolfe Winkler
Apple will pledge to invest another $100 billion in U.S. operations at a White House event on Wednesday, adding to the tech industry’s efforts to meet President Trump’s request to expand domestic manufacturing.
Investors hope appeals by Apple and other companies can limit the economic damage from tariffs. Apple shares rose nearly 4% on Wednesday morning.
LATIN AMERICA
NYT: Brazil Kept Tight Rein on Big Tech. Trump’s Tariffs Could Change That – Ana Ionova
President Trump’s use of painful tariffs against Brazil has so far not sprung his political ally Jair Bolsonaro from house arrest as he awaits trial on charges of plotting a coup.
But the levies appear to be having more success in opening doors for America’s Big Tech companies as they seek to influence the rules governing them.
The companies, which have been aggressively courting Mr. Trump, suddenly have new leverage in Brazil’s halls of power. Against a backdrop of a 50 percent tax on key Brazilian products, the firms are being welcomed to meetings with Brazilian officials and justices of the Supreme Court, as new regulation is being shaped on everything from online speech to artificial intelligence, according to several people with knowledge of the matter.
Reuters: Brazil challenges legitimacy of US trade probe, urges dialogue
Brazil submitted its formal response to a U.S. trade investigation on Monday, rejecting the allegations while challenging the legitimacy of the probe itself.
While calling for "constructive dialogue," the Brazilian government stated that it does not recognize Washington’s authority to launch the unilateral investigation.
In its 91-page response, Brazil refuted U.S. arguments concerning its trade practices, including its ethanol market and the popular digital payment system, Pix. The government argued Brazil’s acts, policies and practices are not unreasonable, discriminatory or burdensome to U.S. commerce.
FolhaDeSaoPaolo: Brazil Formally Urges US to Reconsider Trade Probe, Warning of Risk to Bilateral Ties – Ricardo Della Coletta, Julia Chaib, Mariana Brasil
The Lula government formally requested that the USTR (Office of the United States Trade Representative) reverse its decision to launch a trade investigation into Brazil, arguing that unilateral actions based on this probe could undermine the multilateral trading system and have adverse consequences for bilateral relations.
"Brazil urges the USTR to reconsider the initiation of this investigation and to engage in constructive dialogue. Unilateral measures under Section 301 risk weakening the multilateral trade system and may have adverse consequences for bilateral relations," states the document, signed by Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira.
DW: Brazil announces $5.5 bn package to counter Trump’s tariffs – Felix Tamsut
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced a plan on Wednesday to support exporters who have been hit by high tariffs of up to 50% imposed by US President Donald Trump on several products from the country.
The plan provides credit of 20 billion reais ($5.5 billion; €4.7 billion) to support the embattled exporters.
Other measures in the plan include postponing tax charges for businesses affected by the tariffs, while also incentivizing Brazilians to buy locally produced goods that would have otherwise been exported to the US.
BBC: Bolsonaro’s son praises Trump’s tariff hike on Brazil – Nomia Iqbal and Leandro Prazeres
The son of Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro has praised US President Donald Trump for imposing huge tariffs on his home country – and warned more measures could be on the way.
The congressman said there could be more sanctions on individuals.
"There’s a very significant possibility regarding the application of sanctions and the extension of Magnitsky sanctions to other people. You have on Secretary Marco Rubio’s desk, for example, the possibility of withdrawing visas, among other pressure mechanisms, to try to get Brazil out of this institutional crisis we’re experiencing."
