U.S. President Donald Trump announced a new trade investigation into the European Union after the EU fined Google €890 million for restricting competition.
Trump also said that any penalties imposed on Google, Apple, Meta or Amazon should be reversed, and began a 301 investigation that could lead to a "substantial tariff."
The EU’s fine came under the Digital Markets Act, which aims to curb the dominance of major digital platforms in markets across the bloc. Trump’s remarks followed earlier threats of tariffs on European tech firms that had introduced digital services taxes.
Google’s chief legal officer, José Castañeda, said the company had complied with the EU’s directives but remained concerned about the regulator’s decisions. The United States has used Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 to investigate unfair trade practices, a tool the current administration has used several times since 2025.
The president’s post on Truth Social includes figures that the European Commission has not released; Apple’s reported fine is $15 bn, Meta’s $3 bn, and Amazon’s $2.5 bn according to Trump. Sources of the numbers are unclear, and EU officials have not yet responded.
Technology companies have previously contributed large sums to Trump’s campaign, highlighting the complex relationship between U.S. policymakers and the digital economy.
