Trump Uses Truth Social to Threaten EU With ‘Substantial’ Tariffs Over Tech Fines

New York News: In the latest US News today, we have President Donald Trump announcing on Truth Social on Friday that his administration is launching a formal trade investigation into the European Union, signalling a major escalation in transatlantic tensions over the treatment of U.S. technology companies.

Breaking now, the investigation, launched under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, comes in direct response to the EU’s recent antitrust actions against American tech giants. Most notably, the European Commission recently issued a fine totalling roughly $1 billion against Google, citing the company’s alleged noncompliance with the bloc’s Digital Markets Act.

In a statement posted to Truth Social, President Trump accused the EU of “robbing” American companies and taxpayers. He explicitly linked the new probe to a series of previous penalties levied by Brussels against major U.S. firms, including Apple, Meta, and Amazon.

“The European Union is at it again and, as usual, taking direct aim at GREAT American Companies!” Trump wrote. “The United States of America is not a ‘PIGGYBANK’ for Europe, nor will we allow it to be!”

The President vowed that the U.S. would not only seek to reverse the fines issued against U.S. firms but would also impose a “substantial” tariff on the 27-member bloc.

Truth Social Legal Challenges Brewing

The announcement marks the second time this week the Trump administration has utilised Section 301 authority. Earlier on Friday, the administration imposed new duties ranging from 10% to 12.5% on imports from over 80 countries, citing concerns over forced labour.

That move was met with immediate legal pushback. By Friday afternoon, a lawsuit was filed in the U.S. Court of International Trade by the Liberty Justice Centre on behalf of two small businesses. The plaintiffs argue that the administration is overstepping its legal bounds by using Section 301 to bypass previous judicial rulings that struck down earlier trade measures in 2025.

The EU’s Position

The European Commission maintains that its actions are legal and grounded in the Digital Markets Act, which was designed to curb anticompetitive practices among major digital platforms. In a statement released Wednesday, the Commission defended the fine against Google, citing specific evidence that the company gave search priority to its own services over competitors.

As the administration prepares to move forward with the investigation, trade experts are watching closely to see if this rhetoric will lead to a new era of protectionist measures or if the legal challenges currently mounting in U.S. courts will hinder the President’s ability to impose the promised tariffs.

“The European Union will pay a very big price for this,” Trump stated. “Stay tuned.”