US Launches Trade Investigation into EU Over Tech Fines
United States President Donald Trump has announced a trade investigation into the European Union and threatened new tariffs, escalating a dispute over fines imposed on American technology companies by European regulators.
The move follows the European Commission's recent fine of €890 million ($1 billion) against Google for anti-competitive practices. Trump, in a post on his social media platform Truth Social, accused the EU of unfairly targeting US companies, including Apple, Meta, and Amazon, which have also faced European investigations and fines.
“The United States of America is not a ‘PIGGYBANK’ for Europe, nor will we allow it to be!” Trump wrote. He called for the fines to be “entirely reversed” and said he was initiating a 301 investigation, referencing Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which empowers the US Trade Representative to address alleged unfair trade practices.
Trump added that he is considering “a substantial TARIFF” in response to what he described as European regulators “robbing American companies and, in turn, the American taxpayer.” The tariff threat comes one day after the US announced new tariffs on 60 trading partners, including the EU, UK, and China, ranging from 10% to 12.5%.
Google spokesperson José Castañeda told the BBC that the company had “worked hard to comply” with Europe’s Digital Markets Act but had “expressed our concerns about the impact of recent EC decisions.” He added, “We appreciate the engagement by the administration and US government.”
Trump’s post also claimed Apple had received EU fines of $15 billion, Meta $3 billion, and Amazon $2.5 billion. Representatives for Meta, Apple, and Amazon, as well as the European Commission, have been contacted for comment. Shortly before Trump’s election in 2024, he said Apple CEO Tim Cook had called him to complain about European fines, following a long-running dispute over unpaid taxes.
The investigation and tariff threat mark a significant escalation in trade tensions between the US and EU, with potential implications for global tech regulation and international trade relations.
