EU Delays Google Antitrust Fine Amid US Trade Tensions

The European Union has postponed its planned antitrust fine against Alphabet’s Google, originally anticipated to be announced in early September 2025, amid concerns over potential retaliation from U.S. President Donald Trump and the impact on ongoing U.S.-EU trade negotiations. The delay is reportedly linked to the U.S. government's tariff policies on European cars, with the EU awaiting promised tariff reductions before proceeding with the penalty. This postponement has raised criticism from independent bodies such as Germany's Monopolies Commission, which cautioned against allowing competition enforcement to be used as leverage in international trade disputes. Meanwhile, in the U.S., a federal judge has ruled that Google will not be forced to break up its search business but will face new behavioral remedies to prevent anticompetitive practices, including sharing search data with competitors and limiting exclusive distribution deals. The EU's decision-making process involved internal disagreements among commissioners and reflects heightened sensitivity to the broader political context under President Trump's administration. Both the EU and U.S. actions underscore the complex interplay between antitrust enforcement and geopolitical trade considerations involving one of the world's largest technology companies.