EU puts Apple fine on hold while US trade talks continue

AppleInsider

The European Union has reportedly postponed fining Apple and Meta over alleged Digital Markets Act violations, specifically so the decision would not affect trade negotiations.

The European Union has reportedly postponed fining Apple

In January 2025, it was reported that the EU appeared to have put its planned rulings and fines against Apple on hold. It was partly because key EU staff were being replaced, but also because the European Commission was waiting to assess what the then-new Trump administration would do.

Subsequently, it was reported that the EU was planning to drastically reduce its fines against Apple and Meta, because of fears it Trump would impose retaliatory tariffs. Now according to the Wall Street Journal, the EU has delayed fines still further.

"We're currently working on the adoption of final decisions in the short term," said a spokesperson.

However, reportedly, the European Commission told at least one of the two companies that it would be imposing fines on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. The Commission was to deliver cease-and-desist orders to both companies on that date.

However, this week EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic, and separately Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met with Trump. Just ahead of the meetings, the EU is said to have decided to postpone announcing the fines, and a committee scheduled for Monday was also delayed.

It appears to have worked as Trump is now said to have told officials that he'd have "very little problem" agreeing a trade deal with the EU.

The EU is still expected to press ahead with fines and the cease-and-desist orders intended to make Apple and Meta further comply with the Digital Markets Act. However, there is no indication of when the EU will resume its plans.



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9secondkox2

Good stuff. But I know it’s hoping against hope that someone is able to get the eu to roll back the ridiculous made-up demands enabling these fines to begin with. The entire set of rules was aimed it disabling Apple’s business.

cesar battistini maziero

Amazing news. These EU laws are insane, only people who didn’t actually read into them think they are “good”

nubus

Cesar Battistini Maziero said:

Amazing news. These EU laws are insane, only people who didn’t actually read into them think they are “good”

I like strong competition as it drives innovation and value. Obviously the fat tech cats don’t want any of it.

Have to remember that antitrust legislation saved Apple. As stated by Jony Ive “We (Apple) were within days of becoming bankrupt”. Then came Microsoft with an investment and a promise to deliver Mac applications as MS needed competition. It gave Apple the time needed to launch iMac and invest in iPod.

kempathonnodge

It is important that there is some boundary around how companies behave to restrict other services. For example, I agree that the inability to use a third party smartwatch and for it to be able to handle basic functions like messaging and calling should be encouraged - this doesn’t negatively impact users. 

Forcing third party apps, allowing back doors and allowing the OS to be installed on other devices does. 

The Lunacy, however, of focusing on issues like these over the TINY amount of Tax companies pay, the lobbying of governments or the environmental impact, is hard to state. These have an ACTUAL impact on the lives of EU and world citizens… let’s stop playing around the edges. 

bestkeptsecret

nubus said:

Cesar Battistini Maziero said:

Amazing news. These EU laws are insane, only people who didn’t actually read into them think they are “good”

I like strong competition as it drives innovation and value. Obviously the fat tech cats don’t want any of it.

Have to remember that antitrust legislation saved Apple. As stated by Jony Ive “We (Apple) were within days of becoming bankrupt”. Then came Microsoft with an investment and a promise to deliver Mac applications as MS needed competition. It gave Apple the time needed to launch iMac and invest in iPod.

I am not sure how this relates to what Apple is facing now? Which are the small companies that need protection from Apple in the EU?

gatorguy

Those US trade negotiation demands are going to be very tough for the EU to swallow, and I'll be surprised if they do. The big sticking point is not "free trade" and removing market barriers, but giving up the freedom of EU countries to decide who they will trade with and under what terms. The US insists that any agreement must include a commitment to abide by US trade policies towards other countries, with China being the current focus. In essense, they want every country in the world to agree on crowning the US the sole country to decide who is on Santa's good list and who will be punished.  That's not free trade.

As always things are not as simple as they are portrayed. I don't see a positive outcome for any of the parties if the EU and US stay on this path. 

edited April 21

9secondkox2

nubus said:

Cesar Battistini Maziero said:

Amazing news. These EU laws are insane, only people who didn’t actually read into them think they are “good”

I like strong competition as it drives innovation and value. Obviously the fat tech cats don’t want any of it.

Have to remember that antitrust legislation saved Apple. As stated by Jony Ive “We (Apple) were within days of becoming bankrupt”. Then came Microsoft with an investment and a promise to deliver Mac applications as MS needed competition. It gave Apple the time needed to launch iMac and invest in iPod.

Everyone likes competition. It drives the players to up their respective game. 

However, we despise corruption and fake manufactured unjust competition by injuring and handicapping one player just because they happen to be the best. 

That’s what the eu is doing. 

It’s no longer competition. It’s cheating. Just ask Nancy Kerrigan. The eu is the Tonya Harding in this case. 

faiqharris

Interesting how geopolitics is directly influencing regulatory action. It seems the EU is strategically pausing fines to maintain leverage in trade talks with the U.S. While the fines may still come, the timing clearly reflects broader diplomatic considerations rather than purely legal ones.

nubus

bestkeptsecret said:

nubus said:

Cesar Battistini Maziero said:

Amazing news. These EU laws are insane, only people who didn’t actually read into them think they are “good”

I like strong competition as it drives innovation and value. Obviously the fat tech cats don’t want any of it.
Have to remember that antitrust legislation saved Apple. 

I am not sure how this relates to what Apple is facing now? Which are the small companies that need protection from Apple in the EU?

Apple wasn't a small company when Jobs had to ask Microsoft for help. Take Spotify - Apple is bundling 3 months of their own music service with most devices. Apple is aware of every new owner and even installs the subscription app. EU could probably ask Apple to let users choose the default media player, don't install any, split media playing for media subscription, and let users get an offer "do you want 3 months of Apple Music or Spotify". 

On API-access... pretty sure Sennheiser, Beyerdynamic, B&O, and more would like for their headphone volume to be controlled by hardware volume buttons just as the AirPods. Those protected API calls for basic stuff are hard to defend.