Earlier this month, the EU institutions ended a legislative process that lasted more than a decade, stipulating that all electronics manufacturers would be required to move to a uniform standard – a USB-C connection – for charging connections on mobile devices. A group of senior U.S. senators, including Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, are now seeking to enact similar regulations on the other side of the ocean.
The senators appealed to the US Chamber of Commerce demanding that it copy the wording of EU legislation almost verbatim, which the authors believe is a sign and a model for a move that protects consumers, saves a lot of money and also protects the environment. “We urge you to follow the path of the European Union and develop a clear strategy to prevent unnecessary costs, reduce environmental damage, and restore sanity during the process of purchasing a new electronic device,” he said.
Demanding explicitly Apple as an example of a company that refuses to align with the industry standard, and insists on continuing to use the proprietary Lightning connection. “This is an expensive and frustrating solution for consumers, and it is increasing the amount of waste that the electronics industry produces.”
But Apple is actually the last major manufacturer in the field that has not yet switched to USB C in all its devices, and there is almost no doubt that after the company adapts the iPhone to the new standard in Europe, probably in 2023, US consumers will also benefit from the change. With a different connection. It seems, then, that senators are seeking to block any loophole that might allow Apple to dodge anyway – and perhaps even enjoy positive publicity around the legislation.