EU antitrust officials delayed issuing a fine against Google over its advertising business while awaiting a U.S. commitment to lower car tariffs from 27.5% to 15% as part of trade negotiations. The European Commission recently proposed removing tariffs on U.S. industrial goods. U.S. political pressure, including warnings from President Donald Trump to the EU against taking action on major U.S. tech companies, coincided with the delay. Officials indicated the postponement likely will not exceed a month after questions from the EU trade commissioner. Germany's Monopolies Commission described the delay as a worrying precedent. The underlying investigation lasted four years following a complaint alleging Google favored its own ad services.
According to Reuters, which cited three people familiar with the matter, the EU is holding off while it waits for the U.S. to lower tariffs on European cars as part of an ongoing trade deal. Indeed, these car tariffs were a key part of the recent U.S.-EU negotiations. Last week, the European Commission proposed removing tariffs on U.S. industrial goods, and now it's waiting for the U.S. to lower car tariffs from 27.5% to 15%.
Nevertheless, the delay has led to concerns about political influence over antitrust decisions. Germany's Monopolies Commission called it a "worrying precedent," with chairman Tomaso Duso saying, "The protection of competition must not become a pawn of the Trump administration." Separately, a European Commission spokesperson said that the Google investigation is ongoing but didn't provide more details. The fine comes after a four-year investigation that was triggered by a complaint from the European Publishers Council that accused Google of favoring its own ad services.
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