$7 billion in fines over two years! The Trump administration angrily denounces the EU: This is a "tariff" on American tech giants.

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The EU’s heavy-handed regulation of American tech giants is becoming a core friction point in transatlantic relations.

Since the start of 2024, Google, Apple, and Meta have collectively been fined over 6 billion euros (about $7 billion) by the EU, involving multiple charges such as antitrust and competition law violations. Trump has elevated this issue to the level of trade policy. In February this year, he signed a memorandum clearly stating that he would consider responding to foreign governments imposing digital service taxes and fines on US companies through tariff measures.

US Ambassador to the EU Andrew Puzder bluntly said that the EU "cannot overregulate, arbitrarily shift regulatory boundaries, and issue massive fines to companies at the same time". Meta’s Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan was even more direct, criticizing that the EU's fines are "essentially imposing billions of dollars in tariffs on Meta".

US Deputy Secretary of State Jacob Helberg pointed out that fines imposed on American companies are the biggest source of friction in US-EU economic relations, and in the past twenty years, total EU fines on US tech companies have exceeded $25 billion. The EU, on its side, adheres to its position, emphasizing that fines are necessary means to uphold market rules and protect consumer rights, rather than discriminatory measures targeting companies from specific countries.

Six Fines Form the Main Points of Dispute

Since 2024, the EU has issued six fines to American tech giants, relating to the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and antitrust laws. Google, Apple, and Meta have all lodged legal objections to the fines, and the cases are still in judicial proceedings.

Since the fines are all under legal dispute, the EU has not yet collected the full amount from these companies, but according to legal provisions, companies must cover the fines by means of advance payments or financial guarantees.

An EU Commission spokesperson stated that all companies operating in the EU must be accountable to European citizens and comply with rules designed to protect them, and emphasized that fines are only imposed for violations of EU rules within Europe.

Trump Administration Ups Pressure

The Trump administration has continued to increase its criticism of EU regulatory actions. US Ambassador to the EU Andrew Puzder said in a CNBC interview on March 27, if the EU wants to participate in the AI economy, it needs access to data centers, data, and the US AI hardware ecosystem, "and can’t overregulate, arbitrarily shift regulatory boundaries, and issue massive fines to companies at the same time."

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick previously told Bloomberg, "Let’s resolve these pending cases and turn the page." Asked by CNBC about the impact of EU fines on US-EU relations, a US Department of Commerce spokesperson pointed to this remark.

EU: Fines are a Last Resort, Have Driven Companies to Change Conduct

The EU Commission insists that its regulatory framework aims to protect consumers, not stifle innovation. A Commission spokesperson said, fines are a "last resort" and only used when attempts at amicable resolution fail.

The Commission also listed regulatory successes: After the EU launched formal DMA procedures in March 2025, Apple allowed rival smartwatches and other connected devices to interoperate more smoothly with iPhones—achieved without needing to impose fines. In 2025, after Meta received a €2 million DMA non-compliance fine, it revised its "pay or consent" scheme on Facebook and Instagram, and will roll out new services to users in early 2026.

Apple insists that the DMA "stifles innovation, weakens privacy protection, delays or lowers product launch quality, and increases security risks".

Investigations Continue, Regulatory Pressure Remains

Aside from the fines already issued, the EU Commission still has multiple ongoing investigations targeting US tech companies. In February this year, the Commission notified Meta of intended "interim measures" to block exclusion of third-party AI assistants on WhatsApp—a component of the ongoing investigation.

At the same time, in March this year, the EU initiated formal investigations into whether Snap’s social media platform Snapchat complies with Digital Services Act (DSA) regulations regarding online safety for children.

As US-EU trade talks continue, whether the tech regulatory fines issue will be included in the bilateral negotiation framework is a focal point closely watched by the market.

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