Trump Threatens EU With Tariff Probe Over Google, Tech Fines

US President Donald Trump said Friday that he would open a tariff investigation into the European Union, citing a series of fines levied against American technology companies operating in the bloc. Trump singled out the case against Google, which the company lost on Thursday, as the immediate trigger for the threatened probe, though he said other rulings against US firms were also under consideration.

The European Commission has fined several major US tech companies in recent years over antitrust and data-protection violations, arguing the penalties enforce rules that apply equally to firms of any nationality. Trump has repeatedly characterized such fines as unfair treatment of American businesses and has previously floated tariffs as a response to EU regulatory actions.

It remains unclear how quickly any investigation would proceed or what tariffs might ultimately be proposed. The EU has not yet issued a formal response to Trump's remarks. Trade tensions between Washington and Brussels have simmered for months over a range of issues, including digital regulation, and any new tariff threat could add fresh strain to the relationship.