The European Commission’s Data Governance Act (DGA) represents an important opportunity to develop a better culture of data sharing in Europe, ultimately contributing to boosting Europe’s data economy as well as driving the type of data collaborations that are necessary to support eh EU’s artificial intelligence and digital transformation objectives. Data is a crucial resource for economic growth, competitiveness, innovation, job creation and societal progress – particularly with the backdrop of the recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, it is invaluable for Europe to harness this potential, digitise its industries and compete globally. It is therefore more important than ever to ensure that the power of data can be harnessed and that data can be shared and re-used. Read AmCham EU's position on the DGA here.
Cross-border data flows: a necessary part of global trade
The European Commission’s Data Governance Act (DGA) represents an important opportunity to develop a better culture of data sharing in Europe, ultimately contributing to boosting Europe’s data economy as well as driving the type of data collaborations that are necessary to support eh EU’s artificial intelligence and digital transformation objectives. Data is a crucial resource for economic growth, competitiveness, innovation, job creation and societal progress – particularly with the backdrop of the recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, it is invaluable for Europe to harness this potential, digitise its industries and compete globally. It is therefore more important than ever to ensure that the power of data can be harnessed and that data can be shared and re-used. Read AmCham EU's position on the DGA here.
To ensure the European Commission’s ambitions can become a reality, AmCham EU believes that some aspects of the proposed regulation could be clarified further. It will be important of course to ensure that the proposal achieves its stated goal of increasing data sharing in Europe, rather than unintentionally making collaboration more difficult and creating unnecessary confusion on the relationship with current legal frameworks. To help ensure the capacity of the EU’s digital ecosystem and businesses to innovate, AmCham EU outlined key recommendations touching upon the aspects of international access, data sharing services, re-use of public sector data, data altruism and the European Data Innovation Board (EDIB).
In parallel, Tanguy Van Overstraeten, AmCham EU’s Issue Lead for Privacy and Data Protection in the Digital Economy Committee, wrote a blog post emphasising the importance of cross-border data flows to the global economy, as the world’s GDP becomes ever-more digitised. Data governance must focus on enabling, rather than restricting cross-border data flows if we are to reap the full rewards of the new age of trade in digital services. Find the full blog post here.
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Reducing complexity in Europe’s digital rulebook
The EU’s digital regulatory landscape has expanded significantly in recent years. While the creation of these rules pursues important objectives, their interaction has not always been fully aligned, creating legal uncertainty and increased compliance burdens for businesses.
The European Commission’s proposals for a Digital Omnibus and the Digital Omnibus on AI Regulation Proposal (AI Omnibus) both offer opportunities to improve coherence across the EU’s digital rulebook while supporting Europe’s competitiveness in the digital economy. Both initiatives represent a positive step forward, but further refinements will be needed to ensure they fully deliver on their objectives while maintaining high standards for safety and fundamental rights.
The AI Omnibus focuses on the AI Act, while the Digital Omnibus addresses broader elements of the digital acquis, including data and cybersecurity legislation. Together, they aim to reduce fragmentation and streamline obligations across multiple frameworks. Explore below how these proposals can better support innovation and competitiveness in Europe.
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INTA green light keeps EU-US deal on track
The European Parliament’s International Trade (INTA) Committee vote to approve the Commission’s tariff reduction proposals keeps the implementation of the July 2025 EU-US Framework Agreement on track. This vote was a critical signal that the EU intends to stick to its side of the deal, just as we expect the US to uphold theirs.
AmCham EU now calls for the European Parliament to adopt these proposals in a plenary vote at the earliest possible opportunity. The transatlantic commercial relationship is worth $9.8 trillion, with $6.4 billion in goods and services exchanged between Europe and the US every day. Predictability on the rules and costs of trading across the Atlantic is essential for planning, investment and jobs.
AmCham EU is opposed to broad-based tariffs. We understand MEPs’ caution in a volatile transatlantic political environment and have called for the US administration to provide greater clarity on its tariff policy. However, given political priorities on both sides, we still see the EU-US Framework Agreement as the most realistic path to securing a more constructive EU-US trade and investment climate that helps businesses plan ahead.
Beyond tariffs, the Framework Agreement offers a platform for deeper EU-US cooperation on shared priorities, including critical minerals supply chains, addressing nonmarket practices and strengthening cybersecurity. Today’s vote paves the way for the next phase of that agenda.
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The Transatlantic Economy 2026
Following a year of political and trade tensions between Europe and the United States, commercial ties between the two sides – the deepest and broadest between any two regions in history – have held remarkably strong. In a new study from the American Chamber of Commerce to the EU (AmCham EU) and the US Chamber of Commerce, authors Daniel Hamilton and Joseph Quinlan value the transatlantic economy at a record $9.8 trillion in 2025, up from $9.5 trillion the previous year. This figure comprises an estimated record $2.3 trillion in goods and services trade between Europe and the United States and $7.5 trillion in combined affiliate sales.
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