Current tensions around US trade policy may be helping delay a coming EU penalty against Apple, according to a new Wall Street Journal report. Here are the details.
US and EU trade talks prompted postponement of Apple penalty
Kim Mackrael and Sam Schechner, writing at The Wall Street Journal:
The European Union recently delayed penalizing Apple and Meta Platforms, temporarily avoiding a conflict with the Trump administration during a week that saw the bloc ramp up its push for a trade deal with the U.S.
The European Commission, the EU’s executive body, had initially planned to announce cease-and-desist orders targeting the tech giants on Tuesday and had informed at least one of the companies of that timing, people familiar with the matter said. Both companies could have also been slapped with fines.
The decision to postpone the announcement was made shortly before EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič met with U.S. officials in Washington on Monday
The piece also notes that “The rulings are still expected to go ahead, and it isn’t immediately clear how long the delay might last.”
It’s not entirely surprising that the EU doesn’t want to announce penalties against two major US companies—Apple and Meta—right as it’s negotiating a trade agreement with the US.
Even if the penalties end up being “modest,” as one recent report indicated, the EU undoubtedly wants to avoid providing any potential complications that could hinder having fruitful trade talks.
Will the penalty end up changing at all? It doesn’t sound like it, but the timing could make all the difference.
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