Trump Threatens Action Against EU Fine on Google
US President Donald Trump vowed to “nullify the unfair penalties” imposed by the European Commission on Google, following a €2.95 billion antitrust fine announced on Friday, reports 24brussels.
On Friday afternoon, the European Commission revealed its decision to fine the American tech giant for breaching competition laws in the digital advertising sector, part of an investigation that began in 2021.
In response, Trump criticized the move in a post on Truth Social, asserting that his administration “will NOT allow these discriminatory actions to stand” in reference to the fine.
He claimed the penalty would “effectively take money that would otherwise go to American investment and jobs.” This statement highlights concerns about the economic impact of regulatory actions taken by the EU against US companies.
Threatening to initiate a “Section 301” investigation, Trump indicated that he may impose tariffs and other restrictions on EU goods. He expressed intent to challenge what he perceives as unfair penalties on American taxpaying companies.
As stated on the US government’s website, current Section 301 investigations apply only to China, Nicaragua, and Brazil, raising questions about the legitimacy of extending such measures to the EU.
Last month, Trump had warned various countries against enforcing their digital regulations against American tech firms; however, he did not specifically target the EU. He threatened retaliation with “substantial additional tariffs” and export restrictions concerning critical US technology and semiconductors.
At the time of Trump’s warning, the European Commission had advised caution against speculative interpretations of his statements.
During the announcement of the fine against Google, a spokesperson for the Commission reaffirmed that this action was distinct from ongoing EU-US trade negotiations.
