President Donald Trump said he will launch a trade probe and consider substantial tariffs against the European Union following an antitrust fine on Google.

The move signals a potential escalation in trade tensions between the U.S. and the EU, specifically regarding the regulation of American technology companies operating abroad.

Trump announced the plan through a post on Truth Social on July 24, 2026 [1]. He said the EU's antitrust fine on Google and other U.S. tech firms was "illegal and highly unethical" [1]. The president accused the European bloc of "robbing" American companies, which he said prompted the need for retaliation [2].

To address these actions, Trump said he would immediately initiate a Section 301 investigation [2]. Section 301 is a tool used by the U.S. government to investigate and respond to foreign trade practices that are deemed unfair or discriminatory [2].

"The EU will pay a very big price for this illegal and highly unethical conduct, which I have consistently warned them about," Trump said [1].

Beyond the investigation, the president indicated that financial penalties against the bloc are a possibility. He said he is prepared to impose a substantial tariff on the EU in response to what he called anti-American actions [3].

This confrontation centers on the EU's efforts to curb the market dominance of major tech firms. The U.S. administration's response treats these regulatory fines as trade barriers rather than legal enforcement of competition laws. Trump has previously warned the EU regarding its treatment of U.S. firms, a warning he said the bloc ignored.

“"The EU will pay a very big price for this illegal and highly unethical conduct"”

The threat of a Section 301 investigation represents a shift from diplomatic disagreement to formal trade conflict. By framing antitrust enforcement as a trade violation, the U.S. is attempting to create a financial deterrent against the EU's regulatory oversight of Big Tech. If implemented, these tariffs could trigger a broader trade war, affecting various sectors beyond technology and complicating transatlantic economic relations.