Trump slams EU over $5 billion fine on Google - Reuters

BUSINESS NEWSJULY 19, 2018 / 11:30 PM / UPDATED 10 MINUTES AGO
Trump slams EU over $5 billion fine on Google
Reuters Staff

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday criticized the European Union and said the bloc was taking advantage of the United States, pointing to the record $5 billion fine European antitrust regulators imposed on Google.

U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, U.S., July 18, 2018. REUTERS/Leah Millis
EU officials on Wednesday also ordered Google to stop using its popular Android mobile operating system to block its rivals, adding to trade tensions between Washington and Brussels.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker is scheduled to meet with Trump at the White House next Wednesday to discuss trade and other issues.

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“I told you so! The European Union just slapped a Five Billion Dollar fine on one of our great companies, Google. They truly have taken advantage of the U.S., but not for long!” Trump said in a post on Twitter.

Google said it would appeal the EU decision. The 4.34 billion euro ($5 billion) fine is nearly double the previous penalty that the company was ordered to pay last year, but it represents a little more than two weeks of revenue for its parent company, Alphabet Inc (GOOGL.O).

Reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Doina Chiacu and Susan Thomas