EU accuses US tech big of favouring its personal companies in search outcomes, as Trump lashes out in opposition to bloc.
Printed On 25 Jul 2026
United States President Donald Trump has threatened the European Union with steep tariffs and a brand new commerce investigation, saying that the bloc “can pay a really massive value” after Brussels fined Google $1bn over antitrust violations.
Trump referred to as penalties in opposition to Google and different US tech corporations “extremely unethical”, saying on Friday that the US “just isn’t a ‘PIGGYBANK’ for Europe”.
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“This unlawful and extremely discriminatory observe began at these excessive ranges throughout the first 12 months of the Sleepy Joe Biden Administration, however it’s not going to proceed throughout the Trump Administration,” he wrote in a social media publish.
The European Fee had imposed the wonderful on Thursday, ruling that Google had breached the bloc’s Digital Markets Act by favouring its personal companies in search outcomes and proscribing app builders from directing customers elsewhere.
The penalty provides renewed pressure to US-EU relations at a second when commerce tensions between Washington and Brussels had appeared to ease.
Regulators stated Google gave preferential placement to its personal purchasing, journey and different companies over rival choices, and blocked app builders from steering clients in direction of offers outdoors its Play Retailer.
The EU Fee cut up the penalty roughly in half between the 2 breaches, giving Google 60 days to vary its practices or face periodic fines of as much as 5 % of its common day by day turnover.
Teresa Ribera, the fee’s govt vp overseeing competitors coverage, on Thursday referred to as the motion “decisive but balanced”, arguing that merchandise ought to succeed on benefit somewhat than possession.
Kent Walker, a Google govt, described the ruling as “product degradation” pushed by a small variety of complainants, insisting that regulation ought to enhance merchandise somewhat than weaken them.
The EU has fined Google repeatedly since 2017, together with a $4.5bn penalty over its Android working system, upheld on enchantment this month, and a $3.4bn wonderful final 12 months focusing on its promoting enterprise.
The newest penalty additionally reignites friction with Washington.
Jamieson Greer, the US commerce consultant, warned this week that Brussels’s strategy in direction of American tech corporations dangers unravelling a commerce deal struck in Turnberry, Scotland, final 12 months that capped US tariffs on European items.
EU officers have pushed again, insisting they reply to their very own legal guidelines somewhat than outdoors strain.
Trump threatened to launch a probe underneath Part 301, a US device for probing unfair commerce practices, however the transfer might take months to supply outcomes, although tariffs might observe far sooner.
