Trump’s Tech Nationalism: A Challenge to the Global Digital Order

Tehran - BORNA - Trump’s “America First in Technology” policy marks a fundamental shift from previous approaches. The administration’s focus is now on dominating strategic technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, advanced biotechnology, and semiconductors. Decision-making structures have also changed, with the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology playing a more direct role in shaping actions. Measures range from export controls and technology sanctions to strict oversight of foreign investments—key elements of Washington’s new technology policy architecture.

Eroding the Pillars of Multilateral Digital Governance

In the previous era, the U.S. sought to build networks of technological cooperation with allies based on shared values. Today, however, the White House downplays many of these frameworks, opting instead for direct confrontations with other nations’ laws and regulations.

The European Union, once a strategic partner in shaping digital regulations, has now become a primary target of Washington’s criticism and pressure. Open opposition to the EU’s Digital Markets Act and objections to antitrust fines against U.S. tech companies have created an unprecedented trust gap across the Atlantic.

U.S. unilateralism has driven European nations to pursue technological independence more assertively. Initiatives for localizing cloud infrastructure, building semiconductor supply chains, and drafting independent AI regulations are central to this strategy. The term “technological sovereignty” has become a rallying cry in Brussels and other European capitals.

Intensifying Confrontation with Beijing

Trump views China as both a technological and geopolitical threat. Measures such as restricting exports of advanced chips and isolating Chinese firms like Huawei and ByteDance form part of a broader “technological containment” strategy. These steps are intended not only to slow China’s progress in advanced AI but also to signal to U.S. companies that national security takes precedence over economic gains.

Countries like Japan, South Korea, and India—while maintaining strategic ties with the U.S.—are also designing independent tech policies. Japan emphasizes setting its own AI standards and regulations, South Korea is developing domestic AI models based on national datasets to reduce reliance on foreign players, and even Southeast Asian nations like Indonesia are moving toward their own algorithm governance frameworks.

In Latin America and Africa, a wave of data governance and AI ethics frameworks has emerged, prioritizing social justice and algorithmic transparency. These trends suggest that a multipolar technology architecture is taking shape.

Eroding U.S. Domestic Innovation Capacity

Trump’s domestic policies have also had deep implications for America’s scientific strength. Cuts to the National Science Foundation and key research institutions, the halting of university research projects, and the loss of top talent to countries with more stable support systems are among the consequences. Meanwhile, global competitors are increasing their R&D budgets and strengthening their positions in the innovation chain through open-source models and international collaboration.

Retreat from International AI Regulation

The U.S. withdrawal from global AI governance initiatives—such as the 2025 Paris Summit on responsible AI development—signals a departure from its traditional role in shaping technology ethics. This vacuum has allowed other players like Canada, France, and Australia to take the lead in global regulatory efforts.

Future competition in technology will be determined less by hardware capabilities or the speed of AI model development and more by each nation’s ability to create governance frameworks that are flexible, transparent, and inclusive—frameworks that can maintain competitive advantage while rebuilding international trust.

About the author: Fateme Moradkhani covers technology, surveillance, and AI ethics for Borna News Agency, with a focus on global cyber power and digital militarization.

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