The US president said on Tuesday that he is dissatisfied with Spain's level of defense spending and is considering punishing it with tariffs. Earlier, the American suggested that Spain should perhaps be kicked out of NATO.
European Commission spokesman Olof Gill told a press briefing on Wednesday that trade policy was a matter for Brussels and the EC “will respond appropriately, as we always do, to any measures taken against one or more of our member states.”
He added that the trade agreement between the European Union and the USA signed in July was intended to solve similar problems.
Spanish government: spending at 2%. GDP for defense is enough
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has again expressed his opposition to spending 5%. GDP for defense in a Tuesday interview for Cadena SER radio. According to the government in Madrid, spending at 2 percent. will be enough to fulfill the tasks assigned to Spain by NATO, without harming social policy.
When asked on Wednesday in Brussels about defense spending, Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles did not clearly state that in the coming years they would not exceed the assumed 2%. GDP, leaving this issue open.
Spain, like the rest of NATO members, agreed to new defense goals and in this respect there is “total unanimity” in the bloc, stressed the Alliance's Secretary General Mark Rutte on Wednesday.
The right-wing opposition in Spain “did not support the prime minister in the face of Trump's threats”, sharply attacking the head of government for his approach to defense spending – noted the daily “El Pais”.
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Will Donald Trump impose tariffs on Spain?
Although tariffs imposed by the US against a given EU member are rare, they have happened in the past, said Ignacio Garcia Bercero from the Brussels think tank Bruegel, quoted by Reuters.
Washington could impose tariffs on certain products, most of which are produced in Spain. In 2018, the US did this for black olives, introducing 30% tariffs at the request of California producers.
As Reuters recalled, Spain's share in the American market dropped from 49 percent. in 2017 to 19 percent in 2024
The United States could also end the use of air and naval bases in southern Spain by moving its presence to Morocco, thereby harming the local Spanish economy through the loss of thousands of indirect jobs, the agency said.
