A group of 25 U.S. lawmakers is pressing the White House to launch Section 301 investigations into European Union trade practices — a move that could eventually drag crypto companies into a transatlantic tariff fight. The push comes as the administration weighs additional duties on EU goods in retaliation for what it calls punitive tech fines levied against American firms.
What the lawmakers want
The 25 members of Congress, all Republicans, sent a letter this week urging the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to open Section 301 proceedings against the EU. That's the same trade-law tool the Trump administration used to justify tariffs on China back in 2018. The lawmakers argue that the EU's Digital Markets Act and its enforcement actions — including fines against U.S. tech giants — amount to an unfair trade barrier.
How crypto gets caught up
The letter doesn't name crypto specifically, but the request is broad enough to cover digital-asset regulation. The EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework, which took full effect last year, imposes licensing and compliance costs on foreign crypto firms operating in the bloc. If the USTR agrees that such rules discriminate against U.S. companies, a Section 301 determination could lead to tariffs on European crypto services or even on hardware like mining rigs made in the EU.
Timing is everything
The White House is already mulling extra tariffs on European automobiles, wine, and machinery. Adding crypto to that list would be a new front. The USTR has 45 days from receiving a formal petition to decide whether to open an investigation. No petition has been filed yet — the lawmakers' letter is a political signal, not a legal trigger. But the clock is ticking: the EU is expected to finalize its next round of tech fines in September, and the administration has hinted it wants a response ready.
What happens next
The USTR typically consults with industry before launching a Section 301 probe. Crypto trade groups like the Blockchain Association and Coin Center are expected to weigh in, arguing that tariffs on digital assets would hurt U.S. competitiveness. The next concrete deadline is August 15, when the U.S. Trade Representative must report to Congress on the status of ongoing Section 301 investigations. That report could include a recommendation to expand the scope to cover EU digital regulations.
