Trump Threatens Tariffs After EU Slaps $3.5 Billion Antitrust Fine On Google

News In Short:

US President Donald Trump threatened new tariffs on the EU after it fined Google €2.95 billion ($3.47 billion) for abusing ad tech dominance. Trump called the penalty “unfair” and warned of a Section 301 probe. The EU said Google harmed publishers and advertisers. Google vowed to appeal.

News in Detail: Trump

Washington: A fresh transatlantic trade row may be brewing after the European Union imposed a massive antitrust fine on Google, prompting a sharp response from US President Donald Trump, who threatened retaliatory tariffs on the EU.

On Friday, the European Commission announced a €2.95 billion ($3.47 billion) fine against Google for abusing its dominance in the lucrative ad tech market. Regulators accused the tech giant of unfairly favoring its own advertising services over those of its rivals, thereby harming publishers, advertisers, and consumers. It was the fourth time in a decade that Brussels had sanctioned Google with a multibillion-euro penalty over antitrust violations.

EU competition chief Teresa Ribera stated, “Today’s decision shows that Google abused its dominant position in ad tech, harming publishers, advertisers and consumers.” In addition to paying the fine, Google has been ordered to end the practices that regulators deemed anti-competitive.

Google, however, quickly vowed to appeal the ruling, arguing that its services benefit users and advertisers alike. The company maintains that its ad technology helps reduce costs for advertisers and increases revenues for publishers.

The ruling triggered an immediate backlash from President Trump, who took to his Truth Social platform to denounce the fine as “very unfair.” He claimed that the penalty represented money taken away from American investments and jobs.

“Europe today ‘hit’ another great American company, Google, with a $3.5 Billion Dollar fine, effectively taking money that would otherwise go to American Investments and Jobs … Very unfair, and the American Taxpayer will not stand for it!” Trump wrote.

He further warned that his administration would not allow what he described as “discriminatory actions” against American companies. Trump said he was prepared to initiate a Section 301 proceeding — a US trade law tool that allows for retaliation against unfair foreign practices — to nullify the EU penalties.

Trump also pointed out that Google had already paid billions in fines to the EU over the years, claiming the bloc had collected around $16.5 billion from the company in total. “How crazy is that? The European Union must stop this practice against American Companies, IMMEDIATELY!” he posted.

The latest confrontation highlights ongoing tensions between Washington and Brussels over digital regulations. The EU has been a global frontrunner in tightening oversight of big tech companies, particularly US-based giants like Google, Apple, Meta, and Amazon. Its regulators argue that stricter rules are necessary to ensure fair competition and protect consumers.

The United States, however, has often viewed these penalties as targeted attacks on American businesses that unfairly benefit European competitors.

The dispute comes at a delicate moment for transatlantic relations. Earlier this summer, the EU and the Trump administration reached a controversial trade framework, but long-term negotiations remain uncertain. A US investigation or retaliatory tariffs could derail progress and reignite broader trade tensions between the two sides.

For now, Google faces yet another courtroom battle in Europe, while Trump’s threat of tariffs raises the stakes for both economic and diplomatic ties between the US and the EU.

Highlights :

EU fines Google €2.95 billion ($3.47 billion) for abusing ad tech dominance.
Trump threatens tariffs, calls EU penalties “unfair,” and signals Section 301 probe.
Google vows to appeal; dispute raises fresh US-EU trade tensions.

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