[muaytimbo]

It has indeed. American companies basically finance the EU superstate bureaucracy. I'd like to see some reciprocity on the American side, fining EU businesses dollar for dollar.

[dathos]

Such an US comment, the companies are doing something illegal and get the fine for it. They want to do business in the EU they should follow those rules.

Same goes the other way around, or do you think Philips isn't getting fined out of their nose for their mismanagement?

[cccbbbaaa]

In reality, fines represent less than 1% of the EU's revenue.

[rvschuilenburg]

I don't think anyone from Europe would be against fining EU companies operating in the US that are violating US laws.

[muaytimbo]

Exactly, I think the US ought to make some extremely ambiguous laws and fine EU companies, dollar for dollar.

[creesch]

Oh really? You are saying that American companies are fined to the sum of roughly €160 billion to €180 billion each year? Because that's what the EU budget is (roughly 1% of the EU GDP).

The biggest ever fine was against Google and 4.3 billion several years ago (2018). As far as I know that has been fought over in court for several years and I am not sure if that actually has been paid yet.

So it certainly isn't a steady income stream and doesn't even come close to the actual EU budget.

I am all for discussions about topics like this. But it really is ridiculous to see takes like this, where clearly no single thought or piece of research has gone into the comment. Do better.

[blackeyeblitzar]

Or at least stopping US tax money from subsidizing the EU in areas like defense.

[af78]

How so? US administrations (both D an R) have been pushing EU states to spend at least 2% GDP on defense, and everyone understands that a significant fraction of it must be purchased from the US.

[gman83]

What would the hit to the U.S. economy be if Europe turned into a Russo-Chinese protectorate? Besides, almost all NATO members have been doing exactly what the Americans have asked and increased their defense spending to 2% of GDP (a lot of that money flows in the U.S. economy through weapons purchases, thereby subsidising the U.S. economy)