Trump: EU must stop fines against US tech immediately

Trump: EU must stop fines against US tech immediately

US President Donald Trump has threatened to launch a trade investigation to "nullify" what he claims are discriminatory penalties imposed by the European Union on US tech firms such as Google. This comes after Google received a nearly $3.5 billion penalty from the EU in a major antitrust case [1].

In a post on Truth Social, Trump expressed his discontent with the EU's actions, stating that the penalties are "unfair" and that they would "effectively take money that would otherwise go to American investments and jobs." He also mentioned that these fines are in addition to other penalties and taxes imposed on Google and other American tech companies by the EU [1].

Trump's threat follows a delay in the EU's plans to fine Google, which was reportedly paused due to fears that the move could provoke Trump to retaliate with tariffs and derail a transatlantic trade deal [2]. The EU had initially planned to announce the fine and order changes to Google's business model on September 1, but this date has been pushed back as EU officials continue to discuss the matter with US counterparts [2].

The EU has been investigating Google's advertising technology business since 2023, accusing the company of favoring its own ad exchange program over rivals and bolstering its central role in the ad tech supply chain [2]. The pending EU decision would have followed similar moves in the US, where Google is facing a federal court trial on remedies to break up its ad tech stack and restore competition [2].

Trump's threat to launch a trade investigation is part of a broader trend of his administration using tariffs and trade policies to incentivize domestic production and reduce reliance on foreign supply chains. In August 2025, Trump announced a 100% tariff on imported semiconductors, with exemptions for companies that commit to U.S. manufacturing [3]. This policy is aimed at accelerating the shift of semiconductor production back to the US and reducing dependence on foreign suppliers.

The EU's delay in announcing the Google fine, along with Trump's threat of a trade investigation, highlights the complex geopolitical dynamics at play in the global tech industry. As the EU and US continue to grapple with these issues, investors should monitor the developments closely, as they could have significant implications for the tech sector and global trade [1][2][3].

References:
[1] https://www.cnbc.com/2025/09/05/trump-threatens-trade-probe-after-discriminatory-eu-fines-against-google-apple.html
[2] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-09-02/google-s-adtech-fine-delayed-as-eu-frets-over-trump-backlash
[3] https://www.ainvest.com/news/trump-semiconductor-tariff-threats-tech-manufacturing-strategy-geopolitical-tailwinds-capital-allocation-domestic-production-2509/