by Elena Morettini, Director of Globant’s Sustainable Business Studio, Sabina Ciofu
Global Tech and Trade Policy Update
Good afternoon from Brussels, where the EU is bracing for its letter from President Trump on the tariff rates if no deal is reached by 1 August. All your usual peace and quiet as we approach the summer holidays here in Europe…
1. UK Tech Trade Strategy: Setting the Course – But More Work Ahead
The UK Government’s newly released trade strategy, “A Trade Strategy for the UK’s Tech Future”, outlines a welcome direction for tech policy – but stops short of the kind of bold, coordinated action the sector needs. As techUK highlights in its response here, the document acknowledges the value of digital trade, AI and semiconductors, but lacks detail on implementation and cross-departmental coordination.
While the strategy’s tone suggests an ambition to secure “first-mover advantage” in areas like digital infrastructure, it still lacks binding commitments to tackling trade barriers or fully leveraging trade agreements like CPTPP and the UK-Singapore Digital Economy Agreement.
What’s next? The sector will be looking for clarity on how the strategy will be operationalised.
2. EU-US Trade Talks Teeter as Trump Tariff Deadline Looms
Trade tensions are mounting between the EU and United States as negotiations enter a decisive phase. EU officials are bracing for a letter from President Donald Trump setting out a new round of unilateral tariffs, with the 1 August deadline fast approaching.
Red letter day? Trump told NBC News that the EU would “receive a letter in the next few hours” and that tariffs of up to 20% could apply to countries without an agreement. The move is particularly unsettling given recent EU optimism that a breakthrough deal was within reach.
In Brussels today, senior EU trade envoys are meeting behind closed doors in hopes of putting forward a framework that can be reviewed by trade ministers early next week. But the prospect of a tariff decree signed off by the U.S. president personally is destabilising already-fragile progress.
3. Trump’s Second Wave: Tariff Letters Target Six More Countries
Amid the EU talks, President Trump on Wednesday unveiled a second tranche of tariff-setting letters to trade partners across Asia, Africa and Europe. The recipients include the Philippines, Moldova, Iraq, Brunei, Algeria, and Libya – with tariff rates ranging from 20% to 35%, set to go into effect on 1 August 2025.
The Philippines, a key U.S. trading partner in Southeast Asia, saw its rate jump from 17% to 20%, while others saw slight decreases.
This follows Monday’s executive order locking in the 1 August deadline for reciprocal tariffs on nearly 60 trading partners. While Trump described the date as “firm, but not 100% firm,” he later posted: “No extensions will be granted.”
4. EFTA and Singapore sign Digital Economy Agreement
The European Free Trade Association – comprising Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein – has signed a landmark Digital Economy Agreement with Singapore.
After two years of talks, the deal includes commitments to:
Prohibit customs duties on electronic transmissions
Protect personal data using international best practices
Allow free flow of data across borders with safeguards
Ban data localisation and mandatory source code disclosure
Promote trusted AI, e-invoicing, and cybersecurity cooperation
The agreement will slot into the existing 2003 EFTA-Singapore FTA and aligns with the EU’s digital deal with Singapore, as well as WTO efforts under the Joint Statement Initiative on e-commerce.
Singapore continues to lead globally in digital trade diplomacy, with agreements in place with Australia, South Korea, the UK, and the EU – and now, EFTA.
5. Looking Ahead
Join techUK at the WTO Public Forum | Geneva, 17–18 September
techUK invites members to join our delegation to the WTO Public Forum in Geneva, taking place 17–18 September 2025. This year’s Forum comes at a pivotal moment for global digital trade – ahead of the WTO’s 13th Ministerial Conference in March 2026 and amid ongoing e-commerce rulemaking under the Joint Statement Initiative. More information and registration available soon via our events page.
Washington D.C. Delegation | 23–25 September 2025
Later in the month, techUK will lead a delegation to Washington D.C. from 23–25 September, offering members high-level access to U.S. policymakers, regulators, and thought leaders at a critical time in transatlantic tech relations. To learn more and express interest, visit the event page here.
For more information on any of the above, please contact:
Sabina Ciofu
Associate Director – International, techUK
Sabina Ciofu is Associate Director – International, running the International Policy and Trade Programme at techUK.
Based in Brussels, she leads our EU policy and engagement. She is also our lead on international trade policy, with a focus on digital trade chapter in FTAs, regulatory cooperation as well as broader engagement with the G7, G20, WTO and OECD.
As a transatlanticist at heart, Sabina is a GMF Marshall Memorial fellow and issue-lead on the EU-US Trade and Technology Council, within DigitalEurope.
Previously, she worked as Policy Advisor to a Member of the European Parliament for almost a decade, where she specialised in tech regulation, international trade and EU-US relations.
Sabina loves building communities and bringing people together. She is the founder of the Gentlewomen’s Club and co-organiser of the Young Professionals in Digital Policy. Previously, as a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Community, she led several youth civic engagement and gender equality projects.
She sits on the Advisory Board of the University College London European Institute, Café Transatlantique, a network of women in transatlantic technology policy and The Nine, Brussels’ first members-only club designed for women.
Sabina holds an MA in War Studies from King’s College London and a BA in Classics from the University of Cambridge.
techUK International Policy and Trade Programme activities
techUK supports members with their international trade plans and aspirations. We help members to understand market opportunities, tackle market access barriers, and build partnerships in their target market. Visit the programme page here.
techUK Report - Enabling Growth and Resilience: the UK Tech Sector in an Uncertain World
New techUK report outlines key policy recommendations to boost the UK’s growth through the tech sector amid global challenges, emphasising resilience, trade leadership, and strategic investment.
Our members develop strong networks, build meaningful partnerships and grow their businesses as we all work together to create a thriving environment where industry, government and stakeholders come together to realise the positive outcomes tech can deliver.
Sabina Ciofu is Associate Director – International, running the International Policy and Trade Programme at techUK.
Based in Brussels, she leads our EU policy and engagement. She is also our lead on international trade policy, with a focus on digital trade chapter in FTAs, regulatory cooperation as well as broader engagement with the G7, G20, WTO and OECD.
As a transatlanticist at heart, Sabina is a GMF Marshall Memorial fellow and issue-lead on the EU-US Trade and Technology Council, within DigitalEurope.
Previously, she worked as Policy Advisor to a Member of the European Parliament for almost a decade, where she specialised in tech regulation, international trade and EU-US relations.
Sabina loves building communities and bringing people together. She is the founder of the Gentlewomen’s Club and co-organiser of the Young Professionals in Digital Policy. Previously, as a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Community, she led several youth civic engagement and gender equality projects.
She sits on the Advisory Board of the University College London European Institute, Café Transatlantique, a network of women in transatlantic technology policy and The Nine, Brussels’ first members-only club designed for women.
Sabina holds an MA in War Studies from King’s College London and a BA in Classics from the University of Cambridge.
Policy Manager for International Policy and Trade, techUK
Daniel Clarke
Policy Manager for International Policy and Trade, techUK
Dan joined techUK as a Policy Manager for International Policy and Trade in March 2023.
Before techUK, Dan worked for data and consulting company GlobalData as an analyst of tech and geopolitics. He has also worked in public affairs, political polling, and has written freelance for the New Statesman and Investment Monitor.
Dan has a degree in MSc International Public Policy from University College London, and a BA Geography degree from the University of Sussex.
Outside of work, Dan is a big fan of football, cooking, going to see live music, and reading about international affairs.
Theo joined techUK in 2024 as EU Policy Manager. Based in Brussels, he works on our EU policy and engagement.
Theo is an experienced policy adviser who has helped connect EU and non-EU decision makers.
Prior to techUK, Theo worked at the EU delegation to Australia, the Israeli trade mission to the EU, and the City of London Corporation’s Brussels office. In his role, Theo ensures that techUK members are well-informed about EU policy, its origins, and its implications, while also facilitating valuable input to Brussels-based decision-makers.
Theo holds and LLM in International and European law, and an MA in European Studies, both from the University of Amsterdam.
Lewis' programmes cover a range of policy areas within Market Access (international trade regulation, sanctions and export controls, technical standards and product compliance, supply chains) and Consumer Tech (media and broadcast policy, consumer electronics, and connected home technology).
Prior to joining techUK, Lewis worked in government affairs and policy roles for international trade associations in Southeast Asia including the American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce and the European Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia.
He holds an undergraduate degree in Social and Political Sciences from the University of Cambridge and an MSc in Public Policy & Management from SOAS University of London.
Tess joined techUK as an Policy and Public Affairs Team Assistant in November of 2024. In this role, she supports areas such as administration, member communications and media content.
Before joining the Team, she gained experience working as an Intern in both campaign support for MPs and Councilors during the 2024 Local and General Election, and working for the Casimir Pulaski Foundation on defence and international secuirty. She has worked for multiple charities, on issues such as the climate crisis, educational inequality and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). In 2023, Tess obtained her Bachelors of Arts in Politics and International Relations from the University of Nottingham.
Elena Morettini, Director of Globant’s Sustainable Business Studio
Sabina Ciofu
Associate Director – International, techUK
Sabina Ciofu is Associate Director – International, running the International Policy and Trade Programme at techUK.
Based in Brussels, she leads our EU policy and engagement. She is also our lead on international trade policy, with a focus on digital trade chapter in FTAs, regulatory cooperation as well as broader engagement with the G7, G20, WTO and OECD.
As a transatlanticist at heart, Sabina is a GMF Marshall Memorial fellow and issue-lead on the EU-US Trade and Technology Council, within DigitalEurope.
Previously, she worked as Policy Advisor to a Member of the European Parliament for almost a decade, where she specialised in tech regulation, international trade and EU-US relations.
Sabina loves building communities and bringing people together. She is the founder of the Gentlewomen’s Club and co-organiser of the Young Professionals in Digital Policy. Previously, as a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Community, she led several youth civic engagement and gender equality projects.
She sits on the Advisory Board of the University College London European Institute, Café Transatlantique, a network of women in transatlantic technology policy and The Nine, Brussels’ first members-only club designed for women.
Sabina holds an MA in War Studies from King’s College London and a BA in Classics from the University of Cambridge.
