US President Donald Trump threatened to add tariffs on the European Union (EU) just after the bloc imposed a €2.95 billion, or $3.47 billion, fine on Google for violating anti-monopoly rules.
After the EU's verdict, Trump posted on his Truth Social website on Friday: "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!"
He added: As I have previously indicated, my administration will not let such discriminatory actions go unchallenged. I will have no choice but to initiate a Section 301 proceeding to invalidate the unjust fines being imposed on these taxpaying American businesses.
The EU on Friday announced the fine of close to $3.5 billion on Google for exploiting its market dominance in ad technology, preferring its own ad exchanges to rivals. The EU also requested Google to stop such practices.
This is the fourth multibillion-euro antitrust penalty Brussels has levied against Google.
"Today's ruling demonstrates that Google has misused its advertising technology dominance at the expense of publishers, advertisers and consumers," European Commission top antitrust regulator Teresa Ribera said. Google has confirmed it will appeal the ruling.
The EU's tough digital rules have long been a source of contention in trade talks between the bloc and the Trump administration.
Earlier on Friday, the EU confirmed that Google must pay a €2.95 billion ($3.45 billion) antitrust fine for anti-competitive behavior in its lucrative ad tech operations, marking its fourth penalty in a decade-long dispute with EU regulators.
Trump also noted: “Google has also paid, in the past, $13 billion in false claims and charges for a total of $16.5 billion.”
He further posted on Truth Social:"How ridiculous is that? The European Union needs to end this practice against American firms, right away!"
An American investigation would be a big blow to the EU, which recently won a hard-fought but controversial trade agreement with the US this summer. Although endorsed by all 27 member states, most European leaders have voiced misgivings since then, making a long-term trade agreement with the US uncertain.
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