Media Coverage
Source: Nikkei Digital Governance
Media Coverage
Press Contacts: Erik Cummins, Matt Hyams, Taina Rosa, Olivia Thomas
12.11.24
In a recent article in Japan’s premier financial affairs publication Nikkei, three Pillsbury attorneys were quoted on a variety of issues to watch in the tech industry during the incoming Trump administration.
Antitrust & Competition partner Michael Sibarium, who commented on Trump’s competition policy, said that “Trump’s inauguration as president does not necessarily indicate a softening of antitrust authorities… [as he] will not want to be seen as taking a ‘soft’ stance against big tech.”
“Trump will want to be evaluated as a modern version of the [Teddy] Roosevelt administration,” Sibarium added. “Even if [Trump] takes an aggressive stance, Trump will surely not want to lose in a court battle against big tech. In that sense, I believe that the philosophy of competition policy will return to a more ‘traditional’ approach focusing on economics, considering remedies short of litigation, and de-emphasizing the expanded role of antitrust policy promoted by the neo-Brandeisians.”
In the area of artificial intelligence, Global Sourcing & Technology Transactions partner Brooke Daniels, who co-leads Pillsbury’s AI practice, told Nikkei that “the Trump administration is expected to move forward with deregulation regarding AI and focus on improving the competitiveness of American companies.”
“However, there is no clear outlook for what will happen in the future,” Daniels added. “It has not been indicated whether Trump will issue a more deregulatory executive order that emphasizes freedom after revoking the executive order, or whether he will accept the current situation in which each state applies its own patchwork of AI regulations.”
Additionally, International Trade senior associate Roya Motazedi addressed the course of action that Trump is expected to take to give the United States the upper hand in trade policy—specifically in regard to China.
“During Trump’s first term, export controls were used as a policy tool to curb China’s development of advanced technology,” she said. “This policy has been continued under the Biden administration. Export controls against China are not only a sanction against technology competition, but also against anything that goes against American values.”
“The Trump administration in its second term will also take a tough stance against China and will likely utilize export controls,” she concluded.
Click here to read the full article (subscription required).