Trump threatens EU with retaliatory tariffs over Google fine
Trump threatens EU with retaliatory tariffs over Google fine. Trade wars rarely start out of nowhere — they simmer for years, but a single event often becomes the spark. When the European Union imposes a record fine on an American tech giant, and the US president responds by promising a "very big" price, it is no longer just a dispute over digital markets. It is a clash between two approaches to regulating the global economy, where every new tariff becomes not only an economic but also a political weapon.
On Friday, US President Donald Trump threatened to impose retaliatory tariffs on the European Union (EU) over the bloc's recent decision to levy a hefty fine on American tech giant Google. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump accused the EU of "robbing" US companies and taxpayers over the recent fine imposed on the tech company. He warned that the bloc would pay a "very big" price for it. "We expect substantial tariffs to be imposed on them in short order," Trump wrote. The president said the US would immediately launch an investigation into the EU under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.
On Thursday, the European Commission fined Google €890 million (about $1.02 billion) for violating the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA). The company gave preferential treatment to its own services in search results and prevented app developers from directing users to cheaper offers outside its Play Store. This is the largest fine imposed on a single company under the DMA. The Commission also ordered Google to cease these practices within 60 days, threatening additional daily penalties for non compliance.
Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 allows the US president to impose tariffs or other restrictions on imports from countries that Washington deems to violate trade agreements or engage in unfair practices. This tool has already been used by the Trump administration in trade disputes with China and other nations. The new investigation into the EU could lead to a new round of transatlantic trade tensions, especially given existing disagreements over digital taxes and tech regulation.
As CCTV+ reports. In the coming days, the EU and the US are expected to hold consultations, but the tariff threat has already raised concerns in European business circles, which fear retaliatory measures.
