As an EU citizen, I think we have no choice but to be tough here. Trump’s tariffs aren’t something we asked for, but backing down isn’t an option either—he’ll just keep pushing. Targeting US services, especially big tech, makes sense because it hits where the US is genuinely vulnerable, and Europe can’t match them dollar-for-dollar on goods alone.

Look, I’d prefer a cooperative relationship too, but diplomacy clearly hasn’t worked. The US administration needs to understand that actions have consequences, and if this means leveraging our market strength and standing firm, then that’s exactly what we have to do. If the EU doesn’t respond decisively, we’ll only embolden more aggressive policies from Trump’s side.

We’ve tried being patient. Now it’s about showing we won’t be pushed around.

The one example listed in the article was starlink. What other "Big Tech" could even be realistically dinged by this?

How do you tariff Adsense from google? Or 3rd party cell phones that run Android? Will they slap an upcharge on netflix or Amazon prime somehow?

How does suspending intellectual property rights work, also? That seems like a whole can of worms

From my limited understanding of economy and international trade law, “tariffs on services” is not a thing. Is that correct? Can it become such?

https://archive.is/WZ7Kf

you have to stand up to a bully. if you don't, it will get worse.

One of the EU's primary revenue streams is periodically (annually?) being "tough" on Big Tech. If you can't build - regulate, or something like that.

I'm genuinely interested to know: why does the US maintain bases in Europe when they have clearly zero imperial gain from it, the would-be vassal states deriving tribute from the US by robbing their companies rather than the usual reverse?

Perhaps someone better versed in geopolitics could explain why the US doesn't absolutely ditch Europe to fend for themselves and exit all military and otherwise engagements with them and fall back to ordinary international trade relationships.