EU should brace for US retaliation after Google fine, senior MEP warns

German Socialist MEP Bernd Lange, who chairs the European Parliament's trade committee, told Euronews that the European Union should be ready for further measures from the United States following the European Commission's €890 million fine on Google on Thursday. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer called the fine 'unreasonable' and said it creates 'uncertainty' for US-EU trade relations.

The fine was imposed under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), a law aimed at curbing Big Tech's dominance in EU digital markets. Lange noted that both the DMA and the Digital Services Act (DSA) remain in Washington's crosshairs. 'To be honest, I expect that some action will come,' he said.

Additionally, the US announced a new tariff regime on Thursday targeting trading partners, including the EU, over forced labour. These tariffs replace an existing regime expiring Friday. Lange called the move 'crazy', emphasizing that the EU has 'wonderful legislation' on forced labour that is even stronger than US laws. He expressed hope that the tariffs could be challenged in US courts and that after the November midterms, Congress might reclaim control over trade policy as outlined in the US Constitution, potentially providing more stability.