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People who put their faith in fences instead of open markets are
going about it the wrong way, European Competition Commissioner
Margrethe Vestager told a conference in Copenhagen.
"Those defenses will not help. They'll only weaken our economies
and increase prices for consumers, without giving people any
more control over their own lives," she said, without referring
to Trump directly.
"But when people have the sense that markets aren't listening to
their needs, then we shouldn't be surprised if they start to
look for radical alternatives."
Vestager riled the previous U.S. administration when she ordered
iPhone maker Apple <AAPL.O> to pay up to 13 billion euros ($13.9
billion) in back taxes to Ireland last year because its tax deal
was considered illegal state aid.
She is also investigating other major U.S. companies, such as
Internet search giant Google <GOOGL.O> and mobile chipset maker
Qualcomm <QCOM.O>, with both companies facing potential
sanctions this year for alleged breaches of EU antitrust rules.
U.S. online retailer Amazon <AMZN.O> is also in Vestager's sight
over its tax deal with Luxembourg.
(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee, editing by David Evans)
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