May 31, 2018 / 7:36 AM / Updated 3 hours ago

United States deeply concerned about EU's new privacy guidelines - Ross says

LONDON (Reuters) - The United States is deeply concerned that the new European Union privacy guidelines will change how companies do business, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said, adding that the regulation should be implemented in a way to minimise barriers to trade.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross testifies before a Senate Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee holds a hearing on the FY2019 funding request and budget justification for the Commerce Department on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., May 10, 2018. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

New European privacy regulations went into effect last Friday that will force companies to be more attentive to how they handle customer data.

“We in the US are deeply concerned about the way the EU’s new privacy guidelines, which came into effect last week, will force big changes in the way US and European companies do business,” Ross wrote in the Financial Times.

“We must find a way to implement GDPR without creating undue barriers... EU authorities must provide clearer rules and a more predictable regulatory environment to support investment and innovation.”

Reporting by Alistair Smout; editing by Guy Faulconbridge