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Trump threatens EU with tariffs over Google fine
🇸🇬 Singapore /Economy & Trade

Trump threatens EU with tariffs over Google fine

From CNA · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Context piece
  • Former US President Donald Trump has threatened the European Union with tariffs and a trade probe following a $1 billion fine imposed on Google.
  • Trump criticized the EU's penalty as "illegal and highly unethical," vowing to initiate a Section 301 investigation and impose substantial tariffs.
  • The EU fined Google under the Digital Markets Act for favoring its own services and restricting app developers, marking the first penalty under the new law.

Former US President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to the European Union, threatening tariffs and a formal trade investigation in response to the bloc's recent $1 billion antitrust fine against Google. Trump took to his Truth Social platform to condemn the EU's action as "illegal and highly unethical conduct," stating that the bloc "will pay a very big price."

will pay a very big price for this illegal and highly unethical conduct, which I have consistently warned them about.

— Donald TrumpOn his Truth Social platform, reacting to the EU's fine against Google.

Trump announced he would "immediately initiate a 301 Investigation" into what he described as the EU's practice of "ROBBING" American companies. He further anticipated a "substantial TARIFF" on the bloc at the earliest opportunity, declaring, "The United States of America is not a 'PIGGYBANK' for Europe, nor will we allow it to be."

The European Commission imposed the penalty on Google under the Digital Markets Act, a landmark law regulating dominant online platforms. The fine stems from two separate decisions: one for 460 million euros concerning Google's favoritism of its own shopping, hotel, transport, and sports services in search results, and another for 430 million euros over restrictions preventing app developers from directing users to cheaper external offers.

The United States of America is not a 'PIGGYBANK' for Europe, nor will we allow it to be.

— Donald TrumpOn his Truth Social platform.

This enforcement action by the EU has already drawn criticism from US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, who argued that it undermines "constructive dialogue" and poses a "real risk" to transatlantic trade stability. The conflict also tests a trade framework agreed upon by Washington and Brussels last year, which aimed to lower US duties on European cars in exchange for concessions. EU officials maintain that their digital regulations are not specifically targeting American firms.

The EU's enforcement action undermined 'constructive dialogue' and posed a 'real risk' to transatlantic trade stability.

— Jamieson GreerUS Trade Representative, commenting on the EU's decision.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by CNA in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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