Trump Threatens EU Tariffs Over Fines on US Tech Companies
6 verified4 unconfirmed
President Donald Trump threatened the European Union with additional tariffs on Friday, citing recent and past fines imposed by the EU on major US technology companies. Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that the EU was “taking direct aim at GREAT American Companies” and declared that “the United States of America is not a ‘PIGGYBANK’ for Europe.” The threat came shortly after his administration imposed a new round of tariffs on more than 80 countries, including those in the EU. The fines in question include a €890 million penalty against Google issued this week for violating online competition laws, as well as earlier penalties against Apple, Meta, and Amazon. Trump said he would launch a “301 Investigation” into the EU’s practices, a trade law mechanism that allows the US to levy retaliatory tariffs. Google welcomed Trump’s intervention, with a spokesperson saying the company appreciated the administration’s engagement. The European Commission has not commented on Trump’s tariff threat.
What’s verified
Trump threatened the European Union with additional tariffs in a Truth Social post on July 24, 2026, citing EU fines on US tech firms.
The fines include a €890 million (approximately $1 billion) penalty against Google issued this week.
Trump accused the EU of “taking direct aim” at US companies including Apple, Meta Platforms, Amazon, and Google.
Trump stated he would immediately initiate a “301 Investigation” into the EU’s practices, which could lead to retaliatory tariffs.
Google responded positively to Trump’s remarks, saying it appreciated the engagement by the US government.
The EU’s actions stem from its Digital Markets Act, designed to regulate competition among digital media companies.
Not yet confirmed
One source reports that Trump falsely claimed the total of fines against Google exceeded $18 billion without specifying a timeframe or providing evidence; the other source does not address this claim.
One source reports that the US Supreme Court had declared Trump overstepped his authority with earlier tariffs on “Liberation Day” in 2025; the other source does not mention this.
One source quotes Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda; the other source does not include that quote.
One source reports that US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer criticized the EU’s enforcement action as undermining “constructive dialogue”; the other source does not include this.
Misconceptions
One source reports that Trump’s claim that the EU fines were issued “for no reason at all” was false; the EU had cited violations of competition law and the Digital Markets Act. The other source does not address this misconception.
Key figures
Donald Trump, President of the United States
Jose Castaneda, spokesperson for Google
Jamieson Greer, US Trade Representative
Sources: The Guardian, dw.com
