US President Donald Trump on Friday criticized the European Union after regulators fined Google €2.95 billion ($3.5 billion) for breaching competition rules. The penalty marks the fourth antitrust fine the tech giant has faced in the EU.
Trump calls fines “very unfair”
Reacting to the decision, Trump accused Europe of targeting American companies with discriminatory penalties. “Europe today hit another great American company, Google, with a $3.5 billion fine, effectively taking money that would otherwise go to American investments and jobs,” he said.
He warned that if such actions continue, his administration would be “forced to start a Section 301 proceeding to nullify the unfair penalties being charged to these taxpaying American companies.” Trump also cited Apple’s €17 billion fine in Europe, insisting the company “should get their money back.”
The EU’s decision
The European Commission, the EU’s top antitrust enforcer, said Google breached competition rules by favoring its own digital advertising services. Regulators ordered the company to end “self-preferencing practices” and address conflicts of interest along the advertising technology supply chain.
Google dismissed the ruling as unjustified and confirmed plans to appeal. “It imposes an unjustified fine and requires changes that will hurt thousands of European businesses by making it harder for them to make money,” said Lee-Anne Mulholland, Google’s global head of regulatory affairs.
What’s next
The case highlights growing friction between Brussels and Washington over Big Tech regulation. Trump’s sharp remarks indicate the US may weigh retaliatory measures under Section 301 if the EU continues issuing such fines.
