Donald Trump has called for a U.S. trade investigation into the European Union, citing a €890 million fine imposed by the European Commission on Google for allegedly monopolising the digital market. The former president warned that the EU would “pay a very big price” and that any punitive measures should be “entirely reversed.”
Trump’s remarks, posted on Truth Social, also name other U.S. tech giants—Apple, Meta, and Amazon—as victims of EU fines. While the European Commission has collected a total of €1.2 billion in sanctions from these firms, Trump’s figures for Apple ($15 bn), Meta ($3 bn), and Amazon ($2.5 bn) were unverified.
The former president stated that the United States would immediately commence a Section 301 investigation under the Trade Act of 1974 over alleged European anti‑competitive practices. The U.S. could also bring a substantial tariff to bear on countries that levy digital services taxes—something the EU has implemented in several member states to fund public services and address digital concentration.
The conflict underscores how geopolitical tensions around data control can ripple into environmental footprints. Data‑center power use, energy sourcing, and carbon emissions are key pressure points when large tech firms face cross‑border fines or tariff threats. A new trade war could drive tech giants to diversify hosting infrastructures, potentially influencing global energy markets and sustainability goals.
The European Commission said it had filed a €890 million sanction for the alleged exclusion of rival services from Google’s ecosystem, a move that drew criticism from U.S. lawmakers. In response, Google’s chief technology officer José Castañeda commented that the company was “working hard to comply” with the Digital Markets Act. The U.S. government’s stance has been backed by industry accounts, with several of the giants donating millions to Trump’s campaign and presidency.
