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Trump threatens EU with additional “substantial” tariffs over tech fines
The threat follows an EU fine of €890 million on Google for online competition law breaches, and it came a day after the US imposed new tariffs on more than 80 countries including the EU.
Donald Trump threatened the European Union with additional and “substantial” tariffs after Brussels imposed steep fines on US technology companies, framing the action as Europe “robbing” American companies and taxpayers, according to the Guardian Business.
The latest trigger was a €890 million fine on Google by the European Commission, levied after regulators found that Google’s search and app store services breached online competition rules. The European Commission said Google gave preferential treatment to its own services, including shopping, hotels, transport and sports results.
The European Commission did not immediately comment on Trump’s threat. Google said it worked hard to comply with the EU’s Digital Markets Act and expressed concerns about the effects of recent decisions.
Trump’s warning also arrived one day after the Trump administration imposed a sweeping round of tariffs on more than 80 countries, including those in the EU, the Guardian Business reported. The article also notes Trump has used tariff threats as retaliation for decisions outside trade policy and that the newly announced tariffs would impose a 10% levy on the EU, tied to claims about unfair labor practices.