WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump has warned the European Union that he may initiate a Section 301 investigation in response to the EU’s recent antitrust fine against Google. Trump, who is currently seeking re-election, made the comments on his social media platform, Truth Social, on Friday, criticizing the EU’s actions as unfair and damaging to American businesses.
The European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, fined Google approximately €2.95 billion (around $3.5 billion) on Thursday for alleged anticompetitive practices in the digital advertising market. According to the EU, Google abused its market dominance, harming competition and consumers.
In his post, Trump claimed the fine was "effectively stolen" from the United States, arguing the funds would otherwise have gone toward American investment and job creation. He contended that Europe has a history of imposing what he considers unfair fines and taxes on U.S. technology companies, and that American taxpayers would not tolerate it.
Trump specifically warned that he would be forced to "initiate Section 301 proceedings to nullify these unfair penalties" if such actions against U.S. companies continued.
What is Section 301?
Section 301 of the U.S. Trade Act of 1974 is a powerful tool that gives the U.S. administration the authority to respond to foreign government actions, policies, or practices that are deemed unjust, unreasonable, or discriminatory and restrict U.S. commerce. The Trump administration has previously used this provision to impose tariffs on Chinese goods and launch investigations into the digital trade policies of countries like Brazil.
Trump also referenced a past EU fine against Apple, a $17 billion penalty that was later overturned, demanding that Europe return the money.
His comments follow a dinner at the White House on Thursday, where he met with several top executives from major American technology firms, including Apple CEO Tim Cook and Google CEO Sundar Pichai. The meeting appears to have prompted the former president's strong public condemnation of the EU's recent regulatory actions.
The escalating rhetoric from Trump signals a potential return to the aggressive trade policies that defined his first term. A Section 301 investigation could lead to tariffs or other punitive measures against the EU, raising the specter of a new transatlantic trade dispute. This move could also complicate relations between the U.S. and its European allies at a time when global economic stability is already under pressure. The EU has yet to officially respond to Trump's threat.
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