In a recent press conference, President Trump reaffirmed his hardline stance in negotiations with the European Union, signaling progress despite years of what he called “bad treatment.” Trump revealed the administration was just “two days off from sending them a [deal],” suggesting that a breakthrough is near in resolving the non-tariff trade barriers that have long burdened U.S. companies.
During the conference, Trump highlighted a 2024 European Court of Justice ruling that demanded Apple pay $17 billion in fines for allegedly receiving illegal tax breaks from Ireland—despite no evidence being presented that Apple had violated tax law, and Ireland itself siding with Apple. Even the European Union’s General Court—the bloc’s second highest—initially ruled against the demand, noting the lack of evidence and clear political motivation.
But Apple isn’t alone in facing EU hostility. Under the Digital Markets Act (DMA)—a sweeping regulation designed to curb the competitiveness of American tech firms—Meta was served a $200 million fine for simply offering users the option to pay to remove ads on Facebook and Instagram. In addition, Apple has been fined another $500 million for its App Store model, while Amazon, Google, and Microsoft are all under active investigation.
If that weren’t enough, several EU countries have rushed to implement discriminatory digital services taxes (DSTs) that target U.S. tech companies operating in Europe. These taxes violate not only bilateral trade agreements but also international tax norms, creating yet another front in Europe’s unfair targeting of American enterprise.
U.S. leadership has long been complacent with Europe’s daylight robbery and “bad treatment” of American business. President Trump’s forceful defense is a welcome change—and one that’s long overdue. As negotiations continue, the administration must maintain its assertive position against Europe’s blatant regulatory discrimination and ensure that American companies are finally treated fairly.
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Author: Caden Hubbs
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