EU Defies Trump’s Tariff Threats with Crackdown on Google and Apple, Setting Stage for Major Showdown

The European Union has taken a firm position against the giants of American technology, launching a major antitrust offensive against Google and Apple while signaling its desire to retaliate against threats of tariffs by Donald Trump.

The actions of the block occurred in the midst of increasing transatlantic tensions on digital regulations, the EU affirming its authority despite Washington’s warnings.

On Wednesday, the European Commission, the executive branch of the EU, announced that the mother company of Google, Alphabet, was in violation of the law on digital markets (DMA), a historic law designed to curb monopolistic practices in the technological industry. The regulators accused Google of engaging in self -reflection in its Google research and game platforms – an unjust practice where its own services are favored compared to those of competitors. The EU also judged that the Google Play Store prevents developers from directing consumers to alternative services, preventing them from providing cheaper payment methods outside the Google ecosystem.

The conclusions of the commission report a major escalation of the longtime campaign of Europe against the domination of Silicon Valley. The DMA has been presented to break the grip that large companies like Google, Apple, Meta and Amazon have in digital markets, and Wednesday’s action is the strongest application to date under the new law.

In response, Google was unleashed at the EU conclusions, warning that they would injure consumers and businesses. The company said that the modifications made to comply with the DMA had already led to unforeseen consequences, including an increase in costs for users.

Oliver Bethell, EMEA director of Google for the competition, said in a blog post that EU’s conclusions would form even more modifications to the results of research, rejecting the approach of the Commission as “erroneous”.

“The conclusions of the Commission force us to make even more modifications to the way we show certain types of research results, which would make people more difficult to find what they are looking for and reduce traffic to European companies,” he said.

Meanwhile, Apple was also notified by Brussels. The EU has issued advice to ask the iPhone manufacturer to comply with interoperability obligations under the DMA. The regulators insist that Apple must allow third -party developers better access to its iOS mobile operating system, which facilitates the integration of rival services with its software. The objective is to prevent Apple from locking users in its ecosystem by making data transfer or the use of competing services difficult.

Apple has strongly reacted to the committee’s advice, accusing the EU of slowing innovation and forcing it to give new features free of charge to companies that do not play according to the same rules. In a statement, Apple said he would continue discussions with regulators to clarify his concerns, but clearly indicated that he considered the application of the DMA as an unfair burden for his operations.

“”[The moves] Wrap us in administrative formalities, slowing Apple’s ability to innovate for users in Europe and forcing us to give our new features for companies that do not have to play according to the same rules, “said an Apple spokesperson.

Distrust of Trump’s pricing threats

While Google and Apple fight with the EU on compliance, the broader implications of the Wednesday regulatory assault extend beyond the technological sector. This decision is an undoubted challenge for the Trump administration, which warned the EU against the excessive regulation of American technological companies.

Last month, Trump threatened to impose prices on European imports, saying that the block was unjustly aimed at American companies with digital service, fines and regulatory restrictions. He denounced these policies as “extortion abroad”, arguing that they disproportionately affect American companies while allowing European technological players to operate with fewer constraints.

Brussels, however, has shown no intention to retreat. The EU has already marked his desire to retaliate against the prices that Trump imposes, threatening to activate a new legal instrument which would allow him to take countermeasures against the economic coercion of Washington. The reports suggest that European leaders are preparing to retaliate with their own commercial restrictions, degenerating a conflict that could disrupt world trade and deepen the flaw between the two economic powers.

EU’s actions are a clear manifestation of Washington pressure. By repressing Google and Apple a few weeks after Trump’s threats, the block sends a message that it will not be intimidated by American trade policies. The European Commission, under President Ursula von der Leyen, clearly indicated that it considers the regulation of great technology as sovereign European subject, rejecting any attempt by the United States government to interfere in its policies.

The technological dispute quickly turns into a wider geopolitical case, with Google, Apple and other Silicon Valley companies taken in the middle. EU insistence on the application of DMA, despite American warnings, could push Trump to increase his pricing threats, leading to the transatlantic relationship in a full -fledged economic confrontation. If the situation is getting worse, the technology industry could become the battlefield of a trade war that would have a great range for global markets and digital innovation.