U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to launch a trade investigation against the European Union over what he calls unfair fines imposed on major American tech companies like Google and Apple. He plans to invoke Section 301 of U.S. trade law to counter these penalties.
Trump posted on Truth Social that Europe’s actions undermine “brilliant and unprecedented American ingenuity” and unfairly target “taxpaying American companies.”
This came shortly after the EU fined Google nearly €3 billion in a high-profile antitrust case related to its advertising technology. The fine adds to a series of large penalties imposed on Google’s parent company, Alphabet, by European regulators.
The announcement followed a White House dinner hosted by Trump, attended by tech leaders including Google CEO Sundar Pichai, who praised the administration’s “constructive dialogue” after a favourable U.S. court ruling in Alphabet’s antitrust case.
Trump criticised the EU for diverting money that could fuel American investment and jobs, writing: “This is on top of the many other fines and taxes that have been issued against Google and other American tech companies. Very unfair, and the American taxpayer will not stand for it!”
In a later post, Trump claimed Google has paid $13 billion in “false claims and charges,” a figure that remains unverified but reflects past regulatory fines. He also referenced $17 billion in penalties against Apple, including a €14 billion back tax ruling from Ireland in 2024, insisting Apple “should get their money back!”
The EU’s crackdown aims to curb monopolistic practices and tax avoidance among multinational tech firms. While Europe pushes for stricter regulation, U.S. officials seek to defend American innovation.
Experts warn that a Section 301 trade probe could escalate tensions between the U.S. and EU, potentially affecting a wide range of products beyond technology. The dispute is likely to influence global trade policies well into 2026.