US Ambassador to EU Criticizes Planned ‘Made in Europe’ Industrial Package

US Envoy Objects to EU Industrial Plan

Donald Trump’s envoy to the European Union, US Ambassador to the EU Andrew Puzder, has criticized the bloc’s plans for a “Made in Europe” package for economic growth. Puzder stated that passage of the proposed Industrial Accelerator Act, which includes local-content requirements, would be a “serious mistake.”

Puzder said the plan is a key element of the European Union’s efforts to boost economic growth and stem industrial decline. He argued that if approved, the Industrial Accelerator Act would risk damaging allies’ defense efforts and weaken Ukraine’s ability to fight Russia.

Concerns Over Trade Deal and Defense Cooperation

The ambassador said approval of the draft being prepared by the European Commission would be “a direct contravention” of the terms and spirit of a trade deal the United States and the European Union concluded last year. He stated that the two sides had agreed “not to have those kinds of preferences” between their countries.

Puzder noted that the EU and the US share “a very intermixed defense industrial base.” He said many companies producing weapons for NATO allies and for Ukraine have production capacities in both Europe and the United States. According to Puzder, introducing local-content preferences in the Industrial Accelerator Act could therefore affect this shared industrial base.

Criticism of EU Defense Loan Program

Andrew Puzder also criticized the European Union’s €150 billion defense loan program, known as SAFE. He said the initiative prioritizes local purchases, while remaining open to non-EU countries under certain conditions. Puzder stated that including “European preference language” in such measures “can be a very dangerous thing because it weakens our joint defense efforts.”

European Commission and Member State Positions

The European Commission is preparing to unveil the “Made in Europe” package, including the Industrial Accelerator Act, as early as next week. The package is facing pushback from different parts of the Commission itself and from some EU member states.

France has been identified as one of the strongest proponents of the local-content requirements contained in the plan, which would affect sectors including cars and manufacturing. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has warned about the rules, although the specific content of his warning was not detailed in the available text.