Trump launches trade investigation into EU after $1 billion fine on Google

President Donald Trump is launching another trade investigation into the European Union after the group of nations fined Google $1 billion over its search engine practices.

“The European Union is at it again and, as usual, taking direct aim at GREAT American Companies!” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Friday. “After having fined Apple, for no reason at all, 15 Billion Dollars, Meta, 3 Billion Dollars, Amazon 2.5 Billion Dollars, and many others, we have just been informed that Google, a truly advanced and amazing group, has been fined yet another 1 Billion Dollars, without explanation. This brings the Google total to over 18 Billion Dollars!”

Trump criticized the EU action as “illegal and highly discriminatory” and chastised former President Joe Biden for permitting previous fines during his administration.

“It’s not going to continue during the Trump Administration,” the president wrote. “The United States of America is not a ‘PIGGYBANK’ for Europe, nor will we allow it to be!”

A Section 301 investigation under the Trade Act of 1974 provides the Trump administration with the opportunity to impose tariffs in response to unfair foreign acts, policies, or practices that undermine U.S. commerce.

For example, the 10% to 12.5% tariffs introduced this week against more than 60 U.S. trade partners over alleged forced-labor import regulation violations were implemented under the same provision.

“Please let this TRUTH serve to represent that we will immediately initiate a 301 Investigation into the practice of ‘ROBBING’ American Companies and, in turn, the American Taxpayer,” Trump wrote on Friday. “The European Union will pay a very big price for this illegal and highly unethical conduct, which I have consistently warned them about. The penalties will be entirely reversed and, we anticipate, a substantial TARIFF to be placed on them at the earliest possible moment.”

The EU’s fine against Google is the first of its kind under the group’s Digital Markets Act, which became enforceable in 2024.

The fine was issued after the European Commission found that the technology giant gave preferential treatment to its own services over those of third parties when consumers used its search engine and did not adhere to its anti-steering rule regarding sharing cheaper options with consumers.

“Google prevents app developers from freely communicating and promoting offers and concluding contracts with users in distribution channels of their choice, including third-party app stores,” the commission wrote.

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Google has criticized the fine, with Google and Alphabet global affairs president Kent Walker predicting the rule will “break everyday products.”

“To comply, we are having to strip away real-time Search features Europeans love — like instant pricing and direct availability for hotels, flights, and restaurants — and dismantle safety protections on Google Play,” Walker wrote in a statement.