The European Commission has slapped a $1 billion dollar fine on Google for violating its strict antitrust law, marking the first time the tech giant has faced financial punishment under the bloc's Digital Markets Act.
The United States criticised the decision, with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer warning that the move is creating uncertainty in transatlantic trade relations.
In a statement on Thursday, Greer said Brussels' actions were undermining the stability that the European Union says it wants in its economic relationship with Washington. He argued that the latest penalty adds uncertainty for American companies exporting goods and services to Europe.
Greer said the European Commission's decision sends a conflicting message at a time when both sides are seeking greater predictability in trade relations.
"The EU often claims that it is looking for stability and predictability in our trading relationship, but these actions are driving massive uncertainty for U.S. exports of goods and services to Europe," he said.
The comments reflect growing frustration in Washington over what U.S. officials see as a pattern of regulatory actions disproportionately affecting American technology companies.
The European Commission announced the 890 million euro ($1 billion) fine after concluding that Google had breached the bloc's digital competition rules.
According to regulators, the company used its dominant position through Google Play and its search engine to steer users toward its own services and applications, making it harder for competitors to compete on equal terms.
European officials said the case was about protecting competition and consumer choice rather than targeting a specific company because of its nationality.
The latest ruling is part of Brussels' broader effort to rein in the market power of major technology firms.
Teresa Ribera, the European Commission's Executive Vice President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, said consumers should benefit from fair competition and transparency.
"The best products should succeed because they're better, not because they're owned by the company running the search engine," Ribera said.
She added that consumers should be able to see the best offers available from app developers, even when those transactions do not benefit the operator of an app store.
Google has faced repeated scrutiny from European regulators over the past decade.
The company recently lost its appeal against a separate €4.1 billion antitrust penalty related to the Android operating system, one of the largest competition fines ever imposed by the EU.
Brussels has led global efforts to regulate large technology companies, introducing a series of competition and digital market rules that have affected firms from Silicon Valley to China.
The latest fine could add to broader tensions between the United States and the European Union.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticised Europe's digital regulations and in the past has warned against measures he believes unfairly target American companies.
While the European Commission insists its actions are based solely on competition law, the latest case is likely to fuel further debate over the balance between regulation, innovation and international trade.
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