President Donald Trump said Friday he will immediately open a Section 301 trade investigation into the European Union and threatened new tariffs, after the bloc fined Google $1 billion for antitrust violations.
Trump made the announcement on Truth Social, calling the EU’s conduct “illegal and highly unethical” and saying the United States “is not a ‘PIGGYBANK’ for Europe.” He said the penalties “will be entirely reversed” and anticipated “a substantial TARIFF.”
The United States of America is not a ‘PIGGYBANK’ for Europe, nor will we allow it to be. — President Donald Trump
The European Commission fined Google €890 million ($1 billion) on July 23 for breaching the EU’s Digital Markets Act. Regulators said Google favored its own shopping, hotel and transport results in search and restricted developers from steering users to cheaper options outside Google Play.
Google has 60 days to end the practices or face additional penalties and may appeal, the Commission said. Kent Walker, Google’s president of global affairs, said complying would strip real-time features such as instant hotel and flight pricing.
Trump said the fines against Google total more than $18 billion. News outlets reported that figure is inflated; Google’s EU penalties over the past decade total about $12 billion.
Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 authorizes tariffs against unfair trade practices.
This is a developing story. Virginia Times will update as information becomes available.
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