The EU actually solved a genuine problem by making USB-C the common charging connector. A household with three or four different phones no longer needs separate proprietary cables for each brand. That reduces unnecessary purchases and electronic waste. But the problem is that USB-C standardised the connector, not the capabilities of every cable. Most cables supplied with phones are primarily designed for charging, and many offer only basic data-transfer speeds. So you could have a 65-watt charger at home, borrow another family member's USB-C cable, and discover your phone charges much slower because that cable cannot carry the required current. The same confusion applies to data speeds, where two identical-looking cables can differ enormously. EU standardised the physical connection, but left consumers navigating an increasingly complicated world of cable specifications.