The sudden tariff shock from the United States sent tremors through global markets, forcing businesses to redraw supply lines and reimagine their place in a shifting world. Amid the confusion, technology—particularly artificial intelligence—moved from the margins to the center. No longer an option, but a necessity. For Europe, this upheaval is both a test and an opportunity: a test of our cohesion and an opportunity to redefine solidarity not as sentiment, but as strategy. Fragmented responses will only weaken the internal market, but if we treat technology as a tool for connection rather than competition, we can emerge more resilient, more united.
That means investing not just in systems, but in shared purpose. AI can help companies navigate new customs rules, track the origin of goods, and adapt to volatile compliance demands. But only if these tools are available in all languages, usable by all regions, and built on principles that prioritize fairness and clarity over raw speed. Europe must take the lead in designing AI that serves people, not just processes—ensuring accountability for errors, safeguards against bias, and interoperability with different legal frameworks across the Union. This is not about catching up; it’s about setting the tone for a future where trust and transparency matter as much as throughput.
At the same time, we need a digital jumpstart for Europe’s trade systems. A single platform that helps small and medium enterprises access new markets, meet documentation requirements, and find trustworthy partners would do more than streamline commerce—it would reinforce a shared European fabric. Digital services trade, still untouched by tariffs, offers a rare opening for the EU to strengthen its autonomy, provided we don’t squander it through protectionism or regulatory sprawl. Technology doesn’t automatically bring us together. That depends on how we design and deploy it.
If we want AI in trade to reflect our values, we must act now—with rules that protect access, preserve linguistic and regional diversity, and hold developers to high standards of public responsibility. In this age of disruption, Europe’s real choice is not between tradition and innovation, but between isolation and solidarity. The tools are there. The question is: what will we build with them?
