Wexler: EU Microsoft Court Decision Sets Dangerous Precedent for
US Tech Companies in Europe
Will Hold Hearing on the Microsoft Ruling and the EU’s Disturbing
Use of Antitrust and Standard Laws

(Washington, DC) Today, Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Europe in the House Committee on Foreign Affairs raised concerns about the decision by the European Court of First Instance decision to uphold a European Commission anti-trust ruling against Microsoft. Congressman Wexler plans to hold a hearing in the Europe Subcommittee reviewing the Microsoft case ruling specifically and the European Union’s use of antitrust laws as a new form of protectionism as well as the troubling impact these practices may have on innovative American companies.  

“I am extremely disappointed by today’s ruling by a European court affirming the European Commission’s deeply troubling decision against Microsoft. The European Court decision today sets a dangerous precedent and will have a dramatic impact on US-EU economic relations. I am concerned that American high tech companies, including Microsoft, are being unfairly targeted by zealous European Commission regulators. It would be disastrous if the Court’s decision against Microsoft leads to a deluge of new anti-trust cases in Brussels, which appears to already be starting. I am convinced that this will embolden the Commission to go after other U.S. technology companies, such as Intel, Apple and Qualcomm. America's market leaders should not be punished for innovation -- especially when they create markets that never existed before. Such protectionism, under the guise of antitrust policy, is unacceptable; and we need to take a hard look at the Commission’s practices.

“The growing divergence between the U.S. and Europe in the area of competition law must be addressed if our strong trade partnership with Europe is to continue. It is critical that the Bush Administration send the strongest possibly message to European Union officials that it is unacceptable for the EU to attempt to supersede US court decisions and dictate global market share, or to use antitrust and standards laws to slam the door on American technology companies,” said Wexler.

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Congressman Wexler is Chairman of the Europe Subcommittee and a senior member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the House Judiciary Committee; and he also sits on the Financial Services Committee.

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