The United States announced it will initiate a formal investigation into the European Union’s trade practices involving major U.S. technology companies. President Donald Trump made the declaration last week, asserting that the EU has imposed unfair penalties on firms such as Google and Apple.

The announcement came shortly after the European Commission fined Google 890 million euros (approximately $1 billion) for breaching antitrust regulations. The EU authorities concluded that Google had manipulated its digital platforms, including Google Play and its search engine, to steer consumers toward its own services and applications, harming competitors in the process.

President Trump criticized the European Union’s enforcement actions, characterizing the fines as unjust and signaling that the U.S. would scrutinize the bloc’s approach to regulating technology companies. Details regarding the scope and timeline of the investigation have not been disclosed.

The move reflects ongoing tensions between the United States and the European Union over the regulation of global technology firms, particularly those headquartered in the United States. While European regulators emphasize the need to maintain competitive markets and prevent monopolistic practices, U.S. officials have expressed concerns that the penalties disproportionately target American corporations.

This development marks the latest chapter in a growing conflict over digital market governance, with implications for international trade relations and the regulation of technology sectors worldwide.