President Donald Trump has declared his intention to launch a formal investigation into the European Union, citing the bloc's recent regulatory actions against U.S.-based technology companies. The announcement follows a decision by the European Commission to fine Google €890 million ($1 billion) for alleged anti-competitive practices.
In a statement posted to Truth Social, the president characterized the EU's regulatory approach as unfair, stating that the U.S. would not serve as a "piggybank" for Europe. Trump indicated he is initiating a "301 investigation" under the Trade Act of 1974, a mechanism that allows the Office of the United States Trade Representative to probe trade practices deemed discriminatory or burdensome to American commerce. He further warned that the administration is considering the implementation of "a substantial tariff" in response to the fines levied against companies including Google, Apple, Meta, and Amazon.
While Trump cited specific figures regarding fines for Apple, Meta, and Amazon, the origin of these numbers remains unclear. The president's threat comes shortly after he announced a broader plan to impose tariffs of 10% to 12.5% on goods from 60 trading partners, including the EU, the UK, and China.
Google spokesperson José Castañeda stated that the company has "worked hard to comply" with the European Digital Markets Act while noting that the firm has "expressed our concerns about the impact of recent EC decisions." Representatives for Meta, Apple, Amazon, and the European Commission have been approached for comment regarding the president's announcement.
Source: BBC News
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