Consumer advocates are raising concerns regarding potential repercussions from the recently agreed-upon customs agreement between the European Union and the United States. Ramona Pop, board member of the Federation of German Consumer Organisations (VZBV), cautioned in an interview with the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung that the deal must not compromise the EU’s rigorous consumer protection standards and food safety regulations.
Pop specifically highlighted anxieties surrounding the potential weakening or suspension of European digital laws. She warned that allowing US digital corporations to avoid their responsibilities through such actions would be unacceptable, emphasizing that consumer rights “must not be sacrificed for any agreement.
Her comments follow the White House’s description of the customs negotiations, led by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and US President Donald Trump. The White House account mentions a simplification of hygiene certificate requirements for US pork and dairy products, as well as efforts to reduce digital trade barriers. The European Commission has presented a slightly differing interpretation of the agreement’s outcomes.
