EU Targets Google and Apple with Antitrust Measures Amid Trump Tariff Threats

The European Commission has taken antitrust actions against Google and issued directives to Apple under the Digital Markets Act, a law designed to break down barriers in the tech sector. The EU’s investigation found that Google’s search and app store practices—such as favoring its own services and limiting developers’ ability to steer users to other platforms—violate competition rules. Meanwhile, Apple has been urged to improve interoperability within its iOS system, ensuring third-party companies can more easily build innovative products on its platforms.

Both tech giants have pushed back against the EU’s measures. Google warned that the required changes could disrupt search functionalities and drive up costs for consumers by redirecting traffic away from European businesses. Apple, for its part, argued that these new rules would burden its operations with excessive regulations, slowing its innovation process and forcing it to open up its new features to competitors who aren’t subject to the same standards.

These EU actions come at a time when the Trump administration has been vocal about imposing tariffs on Europe in response to what it calls the excessive regulation—or “overseas extortion”—of American tech firms. In a sharp counter, the EU has hinted at using its own anti-coercion mechanisms to protect its interests. This clash highlights the growing tensions between U.S. tech companies and European regulators over how digital markets should be managed.