New York: US President Donald Trump has issued a firm warning to the British government, urging it not to take any regulatory or punitive steps against American technology companies.
Speaking to a British newspaper, Trump said that if the UK introduces laws or policies targeting US-based tech firms, the United States would respond by imposing significant tariffs on imports from Britain.
He reiterated that defending American business interests remains a key priority for his administration and that no concessions would be made on this front. “They are our companies and we will protect them,” he said, emphasizing Washington’s stance on global tech giants.
The comments come amid ongoing debate in the United Kingdom over tighter regulation of social media and technology platforms, driven by concerns over misinformation, harmful content, and their societal impact.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has supported the introduction of stricter rules aimed at addressing these issues and increasing accountability of digital platforms.
However, Trump has strongly opposed such regulatory efforts, arguing that they disproportionately target US companies and could be viewed as an economic challenge to the United States, given the global dominance of American tech firms.
The development highlights growing tensions between the US and the UK over technology regulation, trade measures, and digital governance policies.
Analysts say that if the dispute escalates, it could put pressure on broader economic and diplomatic relations between the two allies.
