Donald Trump was quick to react after learning on Friday, September 5, that the European Commission had fined Google €2.95 billion ($3.5 billion) for abuse of its dominant position in the online advertising sector. On his Truth Social network, Trump took offense at the European Union (EU) for taking a "hit" on the company. "We cannot let this happen to brilliant and unprecedented American Ingenuity and, if it does, I will be forced to start a Section 301 proceeding to nullify the unfair penalties being charged to these Taxpaying American Companies," he wrote. "The European Union must stop this practice against American Companies, IMMEDIATELY!," he added.

Escalation is precisely what the Commission fears, given that the US and the EU reached a trade agreement on July 27 after months of negotiations. For this reason, it took more time before announcing its decision to sanction Google. But under media and political pressure, the EU had to revise its schedule. Its President Ursula von der Leyen would have had to face the wrath of a very angry European Parliament, before which she is due to deliver her State of the Union address on Wednesday, September 10.

You have 83.29% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.