Newly inaugurated President Donald Trump has voiced strong disapproval of the European Union (EU) for imposing hefty fines on American tech giants like Apple, Google, and Facebook.
US President Labels EU Actions as “Taxation”
Speaking virtually at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump accused the EU of unfairly targeting major US companies. He described the fines as a “form of taxation” against American businesses, expressing frustration with the EU’s regulatory measures.
Trump stated, “They’ve taken $15 or $16 billion from Apple, billions from Google, and now they’re after Facebook for even more. These are American companies, and what the EU is doing is wrong. In my view, it’s just another way of taxing them. We have serious complaints about the EU.”
The Apple case Trump referred to centers around a lengthy legal dispute over taxes in Ireland. The EU ruled that Apple’s tax arrangement with Ireland violated its laws, forcing the tech giant to pay significant back taxes.
Trump’s Broader Criticism of the EU
Beyond tech companies, Trump criticized the EU’s broader economic policies, highlighting trade imbalances. He remarked, “The EU treats the US very unfairly. We’re dealing with hundreds of billions in trade deficits with them. No one is happy about it, and we’re going to take action.”
Reactions and Implications
Critics, however, were quick to point out Trump’s inconsistent stance. While he condemned the EU for regulating American firms, his own policies often focused on tariffs and trade measures against foreign businesses.
These remarks signal potential challenges ahead for US tech companies operating in Europe. As the EU continues to scrutinize firms like Apple, Google, and Facebook, the friction between American leadership and European regulators could intensify.
Trump’s statements also raise questions about how his administration might approach issues like App Store regulations and other matters affecting US tech firms in global markets.