President Donald Trump has announced that his administration will launch a formal trade probe into the European Union, accusing the bloc of "robbing" American technology companies through regulatory fines.
The investigation is expected to result in a "substantial" tariff on European goods, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing transatlantic trade dispute.
This approach mirrors previous warnings issued by the president, who has previously threatened 100% tariffs on countries maintaining digital services taxes on American companies.
The threat targets the EU's enforcement of digital services taxes and antitrust penalties against US tech firms.
By linking these regulatory actions to broader trade retaliation, the White House is signaling a shift from targeted tech policy to comprehensive trade leverage.
This approach mirrors previous warnings issued by the president, who has previously threatened 100% tariffs on countries maintaining digital services taxes on American companies.
Markets are likely to scrutinize the potential impact on European exporters and US tech giants alike.