Trump Threatened the EU with a Tariff Investigation Over Fines Imposed on Tech Companies
U.S. President Donald Trump stated that his administration will immediately launch an investigation into the European Union, which could result in the imposition of tariffs. He cited antitrust fines and other penalties imposed by the EU on American tech companies—including Google, Apple, Amazon, and Meta—as the reason, according to Deutsche Welle.
In a post on the social media platform Truth Social, Trump specifically mentioned the €890 million fine that the EU imposed on Google on Thursday. The company was fined for allegedly giving an unfair advantage to its own search engine and the Play app. The U.S. president also stated that the total amount of fines against Google exceeded $18 billion, but did not specify the time period or provide evidence for this calculation.
Trump announced his intention to initiate an investigation under Section 301 of the U.S. Trade Act of 1974. This procedure requires the U.S. to establish the existence of what it considers to be unfair trade practices, after which it may impose retaliatory measures, including tariffs.
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Earlier that same day, the U.S. administration imposed new tariffs on the EU and other countries, stating that they do not sufficiently prevent the import of goods produced using forced labor. The EU, Japan, and Australia reacted to these restrictions with outrage and confusion.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamison Greer criticized the EU’s decision regarding Google on Thursday. According to him, the EU’s actions undermine constructive dialogue and pose a real risk to the stability of transatlantic trade. The EU and the U.S. also continue to dispute the terms of the trade agreement signed last year.
