29 May 2025
by Sabina Ciofu

Global Tech and Trade Policy Update


Welcome to this week’s update on the fast-moving world of global trade, digital policy, and transatlantic relations. Here’s what’s shaping the global agenda right now. 

 U.S. Court Strikes Down Most Trump-Era Tariffs 

A U.S. federal court has struck down the majority of former President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs, ruling that he overstepped his authority by imposing these without Congressional approval. This decision affects almost all of Trump’s tariffs on imported goods except the 25% tariffs on steel, aluminum, and cars. 

The U.S. Department of Justice has already filed an appeal. 

Looking ahead, UK Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds will meet U.S. counterpart Jamieson Greer next week at the sidelines of the G7 Trade Ministers Meeting in Paris - right after the OECD trade ministers summit - aiming to carve out a timeline for lifting U.S. tariffs on British auto, steel, and aluminum exports. 

EU-UK Summit Outcomes: A “New Strategic Partnership” 

As you know, the UK-EU Summit took place in London last week (19 May 2025), resulting in three major outcome documents: 

A few key takeaways: 

  • Plans to negotiate sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures. 
  • Work on joint carbon trading and aligning CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism) systems. 
  • Renewed focus on youth mobility, Erasmus Plus rejoining, and recognition of professional qualifications. 
  • UK citizens will soon be able to use EU airport e-gates. 

However, industry voices expressed disappointment about the lack of progress on financial services and business mobility - issues the parties acknowledged will need further attention. 

For a deeper dive, check out this analysis by Ignacio García Bercero on why this is a first big step in the right direction: EU-UK Reset: A First Big Step in the Right Direction (Bruegel) 

Reminder for techUK members: 

We are holding the EU Policy Working Group with the UK Mission to the EU on Friday, 6 June. Members can register by emailing [email protected]

EU Races to Avert Transatlantic Tariff War 

The European Commission is moving fast to avoid a potential 50% baseline tariff threatened by President Trump on all EU imports as of 9 July. 

Brussels is launching a two-track negotiation approach: 

  1.  Political talks on sectoral tariffs (metals, cars, pharmaceuticals), led by Šefčovič and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. 
  2.  Technical talks on the baseline tariff, led by U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and the Commission’s Sabine Weyand. 

Šefčovič and Greer are scheduled to meet in Paris in early June to advance discussions. 

EU-UAE Set Roadmap for Trade Talks  

The EU and the United Arab Emirates have agreed on a roadmap for their upcoming trade negotiations, planning to launch talks in June. This could open up new opportunities in energy, services, and digital cooperation. 

That’s all from me this week. As always, we’ll keep you posted on all the latest developments from London, Washington, Brussels - and beyond. 


For more information on any of the above, please contact:

Sabina Ciofu

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.

Email:
[email protected]
Phone:
+32 473 323 280
Website:
www.techuk.org

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Meet the team 

Sabina Ciofu

Sabina Ciofu

Associate Director – International, techUK

Daniel Clarke

Daniel Clarke

Policy Manager for International Policy and Trade, techUK

Theophile Maiziere

Theophile Maiziere

Policy Manager - EU, techUK

Lewis Walmesley-Browne

Lewis Walmesley-Browne

Head of Market Access and Consumer Tech, techUK

Tess Newton

Team Assistant, Policy and Public Affairs, techUK

 

Authors

Sabina Ciofu

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.

Read lessmore