• Trump to launch a Section 301 investigation into EU fines against U.S. tech companies.
• The investigation is in response to €890 million fine on Google for antitrust violations.
• Trump threatens "substantial tariffs" if the EU does not change its practices.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to launch a Section 301 investigation into the European Union's trade practices, particularly in light of the EU's recent fines against American tech giants like Google, Apple, and Amazon. Trump claimed the fines were discriminatory and asserted, "The European Union will pay a very big price for this illegal and highly unethical conduct," referencing a €890 million ($1 billion) penalty imposed on Google for violating antitrust rules, according to Indiatimes and Reuters.

The European Commission's decision to fine Google has drawn Trump’s ire, with him stating that the EU's practices amount to "robbing" U.S. companies and taxpayers. He plans to "immediately initiate" an investigation under Section 301 of the Trade Act, which allows the U.S. to investigate and retaliate against perceived unfair trade practices. This inquiry aims to assess whether the EU's actions unreasonably burden U.S. commerce, as detailed by Le Monde and CBS News.

Trump has indicated that he expects the penalties against these tech firms to "be entirely reversed" as part of this investigation, expressing confidence in imposing "a substantial TARIFF" on the EU "at the earliest possible moment." He emphasized that the U.S. is not a “PIGGYBANK” for Europe, reinforcing his administration's stance against what he terms unfair trade practices, according to Reuters and Le Monde.