The Digital Markets Act (DMA) is a key instrument to improve market openness and fairness, competition, and user choice in the EU

New challenges posed by generative AI and cloud services need to be addressed

External pressure must not compromise the EU’s sovereignty and autonomy to define its rules

Effective and proportionate fines essential to ensure deterrence and safeguarding DMA’s effectiveness

MEPs are pushing for the Commission’s timely and effective enforcement of the EU’s Digital Markets Act and closer scrutiny of AI-driven search tools and cloud services.
In a resolution adopted on Thursday by show of hands, Parliament urges the Commission to quickly and consistently enforce the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) and to make full use of its enforcement powers. MEPs point to the growing strategic importance of cloud computing services and the increasing uptake of AI-driven search tools (such as Google’s AI overview), stressing the need for closer scrutiny under the DMA framework.
EU’s sovereignty must not be compromised
MEPs warn against political pressure from third countries seeking to weaken the DMA and underline that such interference should not compromise the EU’s sovereignty and autonomy to enforce its own rules. The Commission should make full use of the DMA’s enforcement instruments (including regulatory dialogue, investigations, non-compliance proceedings, and fines) to prevent gatekeepers, regardless of their place of establishment, from bypassing the law.
Ongoing non-compliance proceedings should be concluded without undue delay, MEPs say. They also regret the modest fines imposed on Meta and Apple and stress that effective and proportionate fines are essential to ensure deterrence.
Gatekeeper action
With gatekeepers having to comply with the DMA since 2024, smaller players continue to face discriminatory practices and gatekeeper-imposed restrictions, slowing innovation and reducing consumer choice. Concerns remain around Google’s persistent self-preferencing practices, TikTok’s consent screens using behavioural techniques to obtain consent, the change of default settings and easily accessing competing services by Microsoft , and the continued use of prohibited parity clauses by Booking.com. MEPs are also worried about restricted access to audiovisual media services on connected TVs and call on the Commission to monitor this segment of the market, to avoid replicating unfair practices such as those by Android on smartphones.
Real-world results
Parliament urges the Commission to prioritise the enforcement of interoperability, data access, anti-steering and anti-self-preferencing obligations, while taking into account relevant market developments. The text says compliance with the DMA should be assessed in relation to practical, real-world outcomes on market openness, competition and user choice, while its effectiveness depends on empowered end-users.
Background
In November 2025, the Commission launched investigations into Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure to determine if they should be designated as gatekeepers for their cloud computing services. In April 2025, it issued its first non-compliance decisions and fines against Meta regarding its “pay or consent” advertising model and Apple for breaching its anti-steering obligations. On 28 April 2026, the Commission published the first review of the DMA, assessing the DMA’s impact and identifying areas of future focus, such as cloud services and AI.
 
 
Compliments of the European Parliament The post European Parliament | Digital Markets Act: MEPs Want Stronger Enforcement Amid External Pushback first appeared on European American Chamber of Commerce New York [EACCNY] | Your Partner for Transatlantic Business Resources.

On 1 May, the EU-Mercosur Interim Trade Agreement (ITA) will start being provisionally applied. This will allow EU producers, exporters, and farmers to start reaping the benefits of this deal as of day one. 
The provisional application of the ITA will create new opportunities, supporting the exports of industrial goods, services, and agri-food products to Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. It will immediately remove or drastically reduce tariffs on key exports such as cars, pharmaceuticals, and foresee a first tariff cut for most agri-food products such as wine, spirits and olive oil, immediately creating new export opportunities for EU farmers.
Benefits for exporters of goods and services
Exporters of goods will benefit from immediate tariff relief as of 1 May, when the first tariff cuts start applying.
Moreover, EU companies can start bidding for public and government contracts in Mercosur on an equal footing with local companies. The deal removes most preferences given to domestic firms in government contracts both at federal and state level, making the tendering for contracts procedures simpler and more transparent.
Services exporters will immediately benefit from new opportunities as well, thanks to the implementation of clear licensing rules, non-discriminatory procedures, and movement of workers.
1 May also marks the start of eliminating non-tariff barriers and technical barriers to trade, with rules on conformity assessment, rules on labelling and respect of international standards being applied. This will ensure that EU companies can operate in an easier and faster manner, delivering immediate commercial benefits.
Benefits for farmers and agri-food exporters
The provisional application of the deal creates a better and more competitive environment for EU agri-food producers to export their products to the four countries of Mercosur.
The EU is the world’s biggest exporter of food and drink products, and our high-quality products are renowned across the globe. The agreement is expected to lead to a 50% increase in EU agri-food exports to the Mercosur region. As of 1 May, the EU will have access to the first part of tariff rate quota volumes, while a first tariff cut for most agri-food products will create new export opportunities for EU farmers immediately.
Last but not least, Mercosur countries will start protecting 344 EU Geographical Indications (GIs) as of 1 May, banning imitations as well as misleading terms, symbols, flags or images. Only genuine products, such as, for example, Roquefort cheese made in Roquefort, France, will carry the GI name.
The agreement also provides an unprecedented set of measures to protect sensitive agri-food sectors and ensure level-playing field and reciprocity, including carefully calibrated tariff rate quotas, a robust safeguard mechanism, and enhanced controls.
Background 
Provisional application follows the European Council decision in January to empower the Commission to provisionally apply the agreement as from the first ratification by one Mercosur country. On 27 February, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the EU would proceed with provisional application. Provisional application allows the EU to immediately benefit from this deal, while ensuring democratic process and sensitivities are fully respected.
 
 
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Several key minerals that are essential inputs for digital and renewable energy technologies face high exposure to export restrictions, and the number of restrictions continues to rise, a new OECD report finds.
The annual update of the OECD Inventory of Export Restrictions on Critical Raw Materials tracks export restrictions and supports analysis of their impact on availability, prices and global supply chains. The OECD continues to monitor these measures over time. The latest edition, which analyses measures implemented through the end of 2024, shows that export restrictions on critical raw materials have increased steadily in the past 15 years, reaching an all-time high. Although the growth rate of new export restrictions slowed from 3.4% in 2023 to 0.6% in 2024, a wider range of countries, particularly in Africa and Asia, introduced new restrictions.
Some minerals essential for energy systems, such as cobalt, manganese, graphite and rare-earth elements, saw particularly high exposure to export restrictions. Roughly 70% of global exports of cobalt and manganese were subject to at least one export restriction between 2022 and 2024. 16% of trade in critical raw materials monitored by the OECD faced at least one export restriction over the same period.
“Countries around the world depend on reliable access to critical raw materials for economic growth, innovation and energy security,” OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann said at the OECD Critical Minerals Forum in Istanbul. “Export restrictions can increase supply chain vulnerabilities in highly concentrated supply chains by limiting export volumes and driving up prices. Improving transparency on these measures is key to promoting more open and diversified markets for critical minerals, incentivising much needed investment to scale up production and promoting mutually beneficial partnerships with producer countries.”
Click here to see the chart.
While demand for critical raw materials is rising rapidly, supply remains slow to adjust and highly concentrated. Although the leading producers differ by material, the top three countries for each of cobalt, lithium and nickel account for over two-thirds of global production, rising to nearly 90% for rare earth elements. There is also concentration in the policy measures adopted, with India (19%), China (17%), Argentina (6%), Viet Nam (5%) and Burundi (4%) accounting for over half of all new measures implemented between 2009 and 2024.
Waste and scrap materials remain the most frequently restricted category of critical raw materials in 2024, reflecting both environmental concerns and growing interest in the circular economy as a source of metals and minerals. In addition, export restrictions on upstream supply chains, such as ores and minerals, grew sharply between 2009 and 2024, having increased tenfold during this period.
Highly restrictive measures, such as export prohibitions and quotas, have become increasingly prevalent, accounting for more than one-third of new measures in 2024. Revenue generation has been the fastest-growing stated rationale behind export restrictions since the early 2010s and became the most cited reason in 2024, accounting for nearly half of measures.
For more information on OECD work on export restrictions on critical raw materials, visit https://www.oecd.org/en/topics/sub-issues/export-restrictions-on-critical-raw-materials.html.
The OECD provides data, analysis and platforms for dialogue to build more resilient and well-functioning critical raw material supply chains, including to help unlock new critical mineral supply chain investment, support economic growth and development in producer and consumer countries, and protect mine workers’ human rights and the environment. For more information, visit: https://www.oecd.org/en/topics/policy-issues/critical-minerals.html.
 
 

Compliments of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

The post OECD | Critical Raw Materials Face Rising Export Restrictions, Increasing Risks to Global Supply Chains first appeared on European American Chamber of Commerce New York [EACCNY] | Your Partner for Transatlantic Business Resources.

The European Commission today presented its plan to modernise EU lawmaking, ensuring that laws are clearer, simpler, more efficiently enforced, based on solid evidence and better aligned with the needs of citizens and businesses.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, said: “Europe needs clear and coherent legislation that fully responds to the needs of our citizens and businesses. Today, we deliver our plan to make EU lawmaking more efficient, more effective, and more transparent. We will apply simplicity by design and continue to ensure every rule is supported by strong evidence. But that’s not all: we will also tackle gold-plating, speed up enforcement and clean up our current stock of legislation. This is a critical contribution to bolster our competitiveness.”
The Commission will act in five areas:

Simplicity by design: EU laws must be easy to understand, apply and enforce. The Commission aims to embed ‘simplicity by design’ into every proposal, ensuring clarity on who must act, how to comply, and the consequences of non-compliance.
Strengthening the better regulation framework: the better regulation system sets out the principles that the European Commission follows when preparing new initiatives. It is already among the most advanced in the world. It will be further improved to enhance transparency, stakeholder engagement and efficiency.
Regulatory deep cleaning: while the Union continues to pursue ambitious policies, it must also put its large stock of existing legislation in order. An Action Plan will tackle inconsistencies, overlapping and overly complex provisions in 12 priority areas.
Tackling regulatory gold-plating: the Commission will help Member States identify and tackle unnecessary complexity and barriers to the Single Market where they apply stricter or more extensive requirements than those set out in EU law.
Faster, robust enforcement: the Commission will strengthen enforcement of the Single Market rulebook in selected policy areas. A focus will also be placed on reducing the number of long-standing infringement cases.

At a time of profound global shifts, an efficient and effective regulatory framework is essential for European competitiveness. Simpler, better-designed, and easier-to-implement rules will therefore help to unlock economic potential and promote a more dynamic and integrated Single Market.
The European Parliament and the Council are essential partners in helping to make the objectives outlined in this Communication a reality. To that end, the Commission calls on the co-legislators to ensure that ‘simplicity by design’ and better regulation principles are applied consistently, by each Institution, during every legislative process.
Today’s Communication builds on President von der Leyen‘s Political Guidelines for 2024-2029, the commitments she made at the Leaders’ Retreat on 12 February 2026, and the Communication ‘A Simpler and Faster Europe‘.The post European Commission | Proposal of a Plan for Simpler, Clearer and Better Enforced EU Rules first appeared on European American Chamber of Commerce New York [EACCNY] | Your Partner for Transatlantic Business Resources.