Trump says US to launch EU probe over 'illegal' Google fine


Journalists follow a news conference during the opening of the new Alphabet's Google Berlin office in Berlin, Germany, January 22, 2019. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke/File Photo

(Corrects to ⁠say Trump in paragraph ⁠3)

July 24 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald ‌Trump on Friday blasted the European Union over what he called its ​illegal decision to fine ⁠Alphabet's Google, ⁠saying Washington would launch a probe ⁠into ‌the bloc's "robbing" of American companies.

The European Commission ⁠on Thursday fined Google a total ​of €890 ‌million ($1 billion) for flouting EU ⁠rules ​aimed at reining in the power of Big Tech.

"We will ⁠immediately initiate a 301 ​Investigation into the practice of “ROBBING” American Companies," Trump said in a ⁠social media post, referring to Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.

"The European ​Union will pay ⁠a very big price for ​this illegal and ‌highly unethical conduct," he ​wrote.

(Reporting by David Ljunggren; editing by Susan Heavey)

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