President Donald Trump has declared that the United States will initiate a formal investigation into the European Union following a series of significant fines levied against prominent American technology companies. In a statement posted to Truth Social, Trump characterized the EU's regulatory actions as unfair and warned that the bloc would pay a "very big price" for its treatment of firms including Google, Apple, Meta, and Amazon.
The President stated he is launching a "301 investigation" under the Trade Act of 1974, a mechanism used to address trade practices deemed harmful to U.S. interests. Trump argued that these regulatory penalties amount to "robbing American companies" and suggested that existing fines should be reversed. He further threatened the implementation of "a substantial TARIFF" on the EU, building on recent announcements of broader trade levies affecting multiple international partners.
The announcement follows a recent €890 million ($1 billion) fine issued by the European Commission against Google for alleged anti-competitive practices. While Trump cited specific figures regarding total fines he claims have been imposed on Apple, Meta, and Amazon, the origins of these statistics remain unclear. A Google spokesperson noted that the company has sought to comply with the European Digital Markets Act while maintaining ongoing communication with the U.S. government regarding their concerns.
This escalation comes shortly after the administration announced plans for new tariffs ranging from 10% to 12.5% on various trading partners, including the UK and China. The White House has previously signaled a firm stance against European digital services taxes, with the President having previously threatened 100% tariffs on nations that implement such measures.
Source: BBC News
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