European Union regulators have delayed a decision to fine Alphabet’s Google over its advertising technology business while awaiting progress on a trade deal with the United States, three people familiar with the matter said on Tuesday.
The trade discussions have centred on car tariffs. The European Commission recently proposed removing tariffs on imported US industrial goods and expects Washington to cut duties on European cars to 15 percent from the current 27.5 percent. However, US President Donald Trump has warned of possible retaliation if the EU takes strict action against major American technology firms.
Google had been told last Friday that EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera would announce a fine on Monday, but the announcement did not happen and no explanation was given to the company, one source said. Another person noted the delay could last less than a month, while others linked it to questions raised by EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic about the decision.
Germany’s Monopolies Commission described the pause as troubling. Its chairman Tomaso Duso said, “The protection of competition must not become a pawn of the Trump administration.”
A spokesperson for the European Commission said the Google investigation remains ongoing and declined further comment. Google also chose not to comment.
The fine, expected to be modest, follows a four-year probe into allegations that Google gave preferential treatment to its own advertising services over competitors, after a complaint from the European Publishers Council.
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