The EU is reportedly planning only minimal fines against Apple and others
The European Union is set to fine Apple because of the App Store’s claimed violations of the Digital Markets Act, but the sum will reportedly be minimal, to avoid the ire of President Donald Trump.
During the ten years that Margrethe Vestager oversaw the EU’s anticompetition regulations, Apple was fined $2 billion over allegations concerning Apple Music. Apple was also forced to pay $14.5 billion in back taxes, which Tim Cook described as “total political crap.”
In a sign that the enforcement of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) is at least political, the Financial Times now reports that future fines are being reduced specifically to avoid clashes with President Trump. New EU competition chief Teresa Ribera had previously said she was open to negotiations with the White House, but the EU would not be bullied.
President Trump has already imposed a 25% tariff on the importing of car parts, which is a key business for EU countries including Germany. He has also, though, threatened further large-scale tariffs on the EU under certain circumstances, such as unspecified cooperation between Europe and Canada.
These extra tariffs haven’t happened yet, and the ones on auto parts don’t affect Apple. But even before he was elected, Trump had told Tim Cook that “I’m not going to let [the EU] take advantage of our companies — that won’t, you know, be happening.”
All of this comes as the EU is reportedly set to shortly fine both Apple and Meta over DMA violations, and the fines are now expected to be minimal.
“This is a crucial test for the [European] Commission,” a person said only to be from one of the affected companies told the publication. “Further targeting US tech firms will heighten transatlantic tensions and provoke retaliatory actions and, ultimately, it’s [EU] member states and European businesses that will ear the cost.
Three unnamed EU officials said that the EU and the European Commission intend to impose fines that are far below the maximum. The DMA allows for fines of up to 10% of a company’s global annual turnover, which would be many billions of dollars for Apple.
However, the European Commission reportedly says that the DMA is relatively new, and that decisions based on it could yet be court in challenged. Plus, under its new administration, the EC is said to be more focused on enforcing the law rather than on fining companies.
What happens next?
The EU is still expected to demand that Apple revise its App Store rules regarding the anti-steering aspects that the European Commission objects to. Similarly, Meta is expected to be told to change its “pay or consent” model, aimed at pushing users into allowing tracking.
At present, the European Commission is due to present its decisions to representatives of the EU’s 27 member states on March 28, 2025. The fines are planned to be announced in the following week, though all dates are subject to change.
This new report follows previous speculation that in January 2025, the EU put all of its plans for fine on hold. It was said that the European Commission was waiting to see the impact of President Trump’s new administration.
