Apple calls for end to 'unfair' EU tech rules

The long-running dispute between the European Union and major tech companies has taken another twist after Apple demanded that the bloc scrap its Digital Markets Act.

The DMA was introduced in 2022 with the specific aim of curbing the market dominance of major tech firms — many of which are from the United States — to ensure more competition for consumer benefit.

It contains provision for fines of up to 10 percent of global revenue for companies that do not comply with its terms. However, several US tech firms, and also President Donald Trump, have said the act discriminates against US companies.

The latest trans-Atlantic flare-up occurs in the aftermath of the tariff dispute, which has dominated world trade for most of the year and has resulted in many EU exports to the US now being subject to 15 percent tariffs.

"The DMA should be repealed while a more appropriate fit for purpose legislative instrument is put in place," Apple said in a statement. Some new features on the company's products were being held up because of the need to comply with the DMA's obligation that products should be interoperable, meaning they can also work with those made by rival manufacturers, it said.

"Despite our concerns with the DMA, teams across Apple are spending thousands of hours to bring new features to the European Union while meeting the law's requirements. But it's become clear that we can't solve every problem the DMA creates," it added.

Heavy fines

In April, Apple was fined 500 million euros ($587 million) by the EU after an inquiry into whether its rules stopped application developers from offering consumers cheaper products outside the App Store.

The company later changed its rules to avoid further sanctions, while also protesting that the regulations gave consumers a worse experience, which is the opposite of the legislation's intended goal, and made doing business harder.

Facebook's parent company, Meta, was also heavily fined over its data collection policy, with European Commissioner Teresa Ribera saying both companies had "fallen short of compliance with the DMA by implementing measures that reinforce the dependence of business users and consumers on their platforms".

"As a result, we have taken firm but balanced enforcement action against both companies, based on clear and predictable rules," she said.

Trump has already accused the EU of targeting US companies, a claim that EU tech spokesman Thomas Regnier said he could "firmly rebut".