Trump Administration Pressures Europe to Ditch AI Rulebook - Bloomberg

Trump Administration Pressures Europe to Ditch AI Rulebook - Bloomberg

The Trump administration has intensified its efforts to persuade Europe to abandon a proposed rulebook for advanced artificial intelligence (AI), according to recent developments. The U.S. government's Mission to the European Union (EU) has sent a letter to the European Commission arguing against the adoption of the AI code of practice in its current form. This move is part of a broader trend of U.S. pressure on EU tech regulations, which the Trump administration has criticized as unfairly targeting American companies [1].

The AI code of practice, which is still being finalized, aims to provide a voluntary framework for tech companies to adhere to EU standards on transparency, risk-mitigation, and copyright rules. Non-compliance could result in fines of up to seven percent of a company's annual sales and increased regulatory scrutiny. The code is being drafted by tech firms, copyright holders, and civil society representatives under the stewardship of the European Commission. Meta Platforms Inc. and Alphabet Inc. have criticized the rulebook, with Meta's head of global affairs, Joel Kaplan, describing it as "unworkable and infeasible" [1].

The Trump administration has previously clashed with the EU over its role as the world's chief digital rulemaker. In January, President Trump described the bloc's tech regulations as "a form of taxation" at the World Economic Forum in Davos. The administration's push against the AI code of practice comes amidst a series of legal setbacks, including a ruling that blocked the government from withholding federal funds to schools with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs [5].

The EU, however, remains steadfast in its commitment to developing robust AI regulations. The European Commission has confirmed the receipt of the U.S. letter but has not yet indicated whether it will change its stance on the AI code of practice. The final version of the code is expected to be presented next month, with adoption based on the opinions of EU institutions and member countries' representatives.

References:
[1] https://financialpost.com/technology/tech-news/trump-pressures-europe-ditch-ai-rulebook
[2] https://news.bloomberglaw.com/legal-ops-and-tech/trump-administration-pressures-europe-to-reject-ai-rulebook
[3] https://news.bloomberglaw.com/ip-law/trump-administration-pressures-europe-to-reject-ai-rulebook
[4] https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/25/us/politics/trump-student-visa-cancellations.html
[5] https://www.yahoo.com/news/bad-day-court-trump-administration-001800431.html