BRUSSELS - The European Union (EU) reaffirmed on Tuesday that regulating economic activities, including rules affecting major technology firms, is its sovereign right.

"It is the sovereign right of the EU and its member states to regulate economic activities on our territory, which are consistent with our democratic values," European Commission chief spokesperson Paula Pinho told reporters.

The remarks came in response to US President Donald Trump's threat to impose "substantial additional tariffs" and export restrictions on countries that adopt digital taxes or regulations targeting U.S. tech giants.

"Digital Taxes, Digital Services Legislation, and Digital Markets Regulations are all designed to harm, or discriminate against, American Technology...This must end, and end NOW!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Tuesday.

READ MORE: Trump threatens more tariffs for countries with digital taxes

However, Pinho added that the issue was not part of the EU's recent framework agreement with Washington, describing the two matters as "separate questions."

The bloc's tech spokesman Thomas Regnier also dismissed the criticism, stressing that the EU's rules apply broadly and do not single out US firms.