EU Weighs AI Act Delays Amid US Tariff Threats

The European Commission is drafting a simplification package to ease the implementation of the European Union's Artificial Intelligence Act, with a formal presentation scheduled for November 19, 2025. The proposal considers granting a one-year grace period for providers of high-risk and generative AI systems that entered the market before the implementation date. Specifically, the Commission is weighing a delay in imposing fines for transparency rule violations until August 2027 and may exempt companies from registering high-risk systems used for narrow procedural tasks.

This policy shift follows intense pressure from the Donald Trump administration, which warned of trade tensions and the imposition of tariffs on countries with discriminatory tech regulations. Major technology companies, including Meta and Alphabet Inc., alongside 46 European firms such as Airbus and Mercedes-Benz, have lobbied for pauses to prioritize competitiveness and innovation. Former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi also urged a pause on rules covering high-risk AI systems to better understand their drawbacks.

Internal opposition persists, with lawmaker Brando Benifei and over 50 digital rights organizations arguing that delays breed legal uncertainty and weaken citizen protections. Despite the pressure, Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier stated that the bloc maintains its sovereign right to legislate. Any final modifications to the timeline will require approval from the European Parliament and a majority of EU member states.