15 Apr 2025
by Sabina Ciofu

Global tech and trade policy update - April 2025


US Tariffs: Temporary Relief, Lingering Uncertainty

President Trump has temporarily exempted smartphones and laptops from new tariffs, providing short-term relief to markets. However, further levies on semiconductors and electronics remain under consideration, maintaining volatility in the market.  

In response to the baseline 10% tariff imposed on countries around the world earlier this month, the UK government is consulting businesses on potential retaliatory measures, with a focus on minimizing domestic impact. techUK is actively engaging in this process and members will be receiving a draft response for input shortly.

EU-UK Summit: Defense and Digital Cooperation

The upcoming EU-UK Summit on May 19 in London presents an opportunity to strengthen bilateral ties. A proposed security and defense partnership is on the agenda, which could grant UK firms access to a €150 billion EU defense fund. However, negotiations face challenges, including disputes over fishing rights. techUK has joined other industry bodies in urging the EU and the UK to strike a security pact as early as next month and not to make it conditional on a wider reset.

EFTA-Malaysia trade pact sealed

The European Free Trade Agreement countries and Malaysia have concluded a trade deal following more than ten years of negotiations. The agreement includes several firsts for EFTA, including government procurement commitments with an Asian partner. Increased market access for the services sector has also been secured.

ASEAN's Digital Trade Initiatives

In response to global tariff pressures, ASEAN is accelerating efforts to enhance digital trade integration. A roadmap has been endorsed to develop a comprehensive regional digital economy agreement by year-end, aiming to bolster intra-regional trade and economic resilience.

G7 Focus on Economic Security

The G7 has shifted its spotlight to bolstering economic security and supply chain resilience in the face of mounting geopolitical pressures. Ministers will be discussing coordinated action on critical technologies, including semiconductors, rare earths, and cybersecurity infrastructure. As part of the Tech7, techUK is actively engaging with the UK Government and the Canadian Presidency on the tech sector’s priorities for the G7.

UK-India Trade Deal Progress

The UK and India are nearing the conclusion of a comprehensive free trade agreement, with allegedly 90% of the deal already agreed upon. While the deal is unlikely to be anywhere near as ambitious as those the UK has with its other partners in the region, it has however the potential to create commercial links and open up opportunities for UK tech firms seeking to expand into the Indian market.


For more information on any of the above, please contact:

Sabina Ciofu

Sabina Ciofu

Associate Director – International, techUK

Sabina Ciofu is Associate Director – International, running the International Policy and Trade Programme at techUK.

Based in Brussels, she leads our EU policy and engagement. She is also our lead on international trade policy, with a focus on digital trade chapter in FTAs, regulatory cooperation as well as broader engagement with the G7, G20, WTO and OECD.

As a transatlanticist at heart, Sabina is a GMF Marshall Memorial fellow and issue-lead on the EU-US Trade and Technology Council, within DigitalEurope.

Previously, she worked as Policy Advisor to a Member of the European Parliament for almost a decade, where she specialised in tech regulation, international trade and EU-US relations.

Sabina loves building communities and bringing people together. She is the founder of the Gentlewomen’s Club and co-organiser of the Young Professionals in Digital Policy. Previously, as a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Community, she led several youth civic engagement and gender equality projects.

She sits on the Advisory Board of the University College London European Institute, Café Transatlantique, a network of women in transatlantic technology policy and The Nine, Brussels’ first members-only club designed for women.

Sabina holds an MA in War Studies from King’s College London and a BA in Classics from the University of Cambridge.

Email:
[email protected]
Phone:
+32 473 323 280
Website:
www.techuk.org

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Meet the team 

Sabina Ciofu

Sabina Ciofu

Associate Director – International, techUK

Daniel Clarke

Daniel Clarke

Policy Manager for International Policy and Trade, techUK

Theophile Maiziere

Theophile Maiziere

Policy Manager - EU, techUK

Lewis Walmesley-Browne

Lewis Walmesley-Browne

Head of Market Access and Consumer Tech, techUK

Tess Newton

Team Assistant, Policy and Public Affairs, techUK

 

 

Authors

Sabina Ciofu

Sabina Ciofu

Associate Director – International, techUK

Sabina Ciofu is Associate Director – International, running the International Policy and Trade Programme at techUK.

Based in Brussels, she leads our EU policy and engagement. She is also our lead on international trade policy, with a focus on digital trade chapter in FTAs, regulatory cooperation as well as broader engagement with the G7, G20, WTO and OECD.

As a transatlanticist at heart, Sabina is a GMF Marshall Memorial fellow and issue-lead on the EU-US Trade and Technology Council, within DigitalEurope.

Previously, she worked as Policy Advisor to a Member of the European Parliament for almost a decade, where she specialised in tech regulation, international trade and EU-US relations.

Sabina loves building communities and bringing people together. She is the founder of the Gentlewomen’s Club and co-organiser of the Young Professionals in Digital Policy. Previously, as a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Community, she led several youth civic engagement and gender equality projects.

She sits on the Advisory Board of the University College London European Institute, Café Transatlantique, a network of women in transatlantic technology policy and The Nine, Brussels’ first members-only club designed for women.

Sabina holds an MA in War Studies from King’s College London and a BA in Classics from the University of Cambridge.

Read lessmore