The European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) is designed to keep digital markets open and is not aimed at US tech giants, EU officials clarified in response to concerns from US lawmakers.
EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera and EU tech chief Henna Virkkunnen made the statement in a joint letter dated March 6, addressing questions raised by US House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan and Subcommittee Chairman Scott Fitzgerald.
Fair Rules, Not Targeting US Firms
“The DMA does not target US companies,” Ribera and Virkkunnen wrote. “It applies to all companies that meet the criteria of being a gatekeeper in the EU, regardless of their headquarters.”
They also dismissed concerns that the DMA stifles innovation, arguing that the law protects smaller companies from unfair practices, ensuring a competitive digital market for future innovation.
US Has Also Investigated Big Tech
The EU officials pointed out that similar antitrust concerns have led to investigations in the United States. US authorities have pursued lawsuits and regulatory actions against Google, Amazon, Apple, and Meta Platforms, including cases dating back to the Trump administration.
EU: Antitrust Fines Are Not a “Tax” on US Companies
Responding to claims that EU antitrust fines are a disguised tax on American firms, Ribera and Virkkunnen emphasized that the goal is compliance, not revenue generation.
Their remarks come after former President Donald Trump recently threatened to impose tariffs on countries that issue heavy fines on US companies.
“The objective of DMA enforcement—like any other EU law—is to ensure compliance, not to issue fines,” they stated, adding that penalties exist in US regulations as well.
