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Trump threatens 'very big price' for EU over Google fine

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Donald Trump threatened the EU with tariffs and a trade investigation following a hefty fine imposed on Google.
  • The EU fined Google 890 million euros for violating the Digital Markets Act, specifically for favoring its own services and restricting app developers.
  • Trump criticized the EU's actions as "illegal and highly unethical," vowing to retaliate against what he called the "ROBBING" of American companies.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a strong warning to the European Union, threatening retaliatory tariffs and a formal trade investigation in response to the bloc's recent antitrust penalty against Google. Trump declared on his Truth Social platform that the EU "will pay a very big price for this illegal and highly unethical conduct."

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

— Donald TrumpThreatening retaliation against the EU for its fine against Google.

He announced plans to "immediately initiate a 301 Investigation" into what he characterized as the EU's practice of "ROBBING" American companies. Trump further stated his anticipation of imposing a "substantial TARIFF" on the EU "at the earliest possible moment," asserting that "The United States of America is not a ‘PIGGYBANK’ for Europe, nor will we allow it to be."

I will immediately initiate a 301 Investigation into what is becoming a massive ROBBING of the United States by the European Union.

— Donald TrumpAnnouncing a formal investigation into EU practices perceived as harming American companies.

The European Commission had fined Google 890 million euros ($1 billion) for breaching the Digital Markets Act (DMA), a landmark law designed to regulate the conduct of major online platforms. This marks the first penalty against Google under the DMA. The fine was split into two parts: 460 million euros for favoring Google's own shopping, hotel, transport, and sports services in search results, and 430 million euros for imposing restrictions that prevented app developers from offering users cheaper options outside the Google Play store.

I anticipate a substantial TARIFF on the European Union at the earliest possible moment.

— Donald TrumpIndicating his intention to impose trade penalties on the EU.

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer had previously criticized the EU's decision, stating that the enforcement action undermined "constructive dialogue" and posed a "real risk" to transatlantic trade stability. This dispute further tests the trade framework established between Washington and Brussels last year, which involved reducing U.S. duties on European cars in exchange for concessions from the EU. EU officials have consistently maintained that their digital regulations are not specifically targeted at American firms.

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

— Donald TrumpExpressing his view on the economic relationship between the U.S. and the EU.
DistantNews Editorial

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

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