The European Union’s frustration with Donald Trump’s coercive trade policies has reached a boiling point, spurring plans to slash dependence on American tech infrastructure. As Trump wields tariffs like a weapon to bend global trade to his will, the EU and others are mapping out exits from US-dominated digital realms.
Today’s interconnected world runs on digital rails largely laid by US innovators. Europe’s data deluge is stored predominantly on clouds owned by Amazon, Microsoft, and Google, who grip over 66% of the market. AI leadership rests with American outfits like OpenAI and Anthropic.
Trump’s second-term aggressions, from Greenland bids to tariff threats, have shattered complacency. Per a European Parliament analysis, the EU sources more than 80% of its digital goods, services, infra, and IP from beyond its borders.
Legislators are rallying for a tech detox, prioritizing European or alternative providers over US behemoths such as Google and Microsoft. This push reflects a broader awakening to vulnerabilities exposed by shifting geopolitics.
Johan Lingár, a key voice from Sweden’s RISE Institute and Lund University, diagnoses chronic risk-aversion. ‘Decades of conservative buying habits and status-quo bias have left us exposed,’ she states. ‘Now, Trump’s brand of pressure introduces existential threats beyond mere cost hikes or innovation lags.’
Constructing an independent Eurostack demands massive investment. Bertelsmann Stiftung projects 300 billion euros and a decade of work. US tech advocates at the Chamber of Progress inflate that to 5 trillion euros or more.
In this high-stakes game, the EU’s move toward self-reliance could redefine transatlantic relations and ignite a renaissance in European tech prowess.