Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is in Beijing, his second cease on a tour of two nations in Asia who’s on a background of great geopolitical tensions on account of Donald Trump’s tariff warfare.
During his go to to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam Wednesday, Sánchez praised the tariff break as “a door for negotiations and the settlement between the nations”, after Trump suspended the withdrawals in most nations, excluding China, for 90 days.
Before his go to, the White House warned the Spanish authorities towards Beijing’s gear.
In an interview with Fox News on Wednesday, the Treasury Secretary Scott Besent stated that China fairly than the United States can be a “loser guess for the Europeans” and was just like “slicing the throat”.
Sánchez is the primary European chief to make an official go to to China from the escalation of tariff tensions between the United States and the remainder of the world.
Imbalance in favor of Beijing
The business ranges between Spain and China proceed to extend, however with a marked imbalance in favor of the Asian large.
In 2024, Spanish imports from China exceeded 45 billion euros, whereas exports barely reached 7.4 billion euros, based on information from the Ministry of Economy.
This locations China because the fourth largest business companion in Spain, its second largest items provider, however solely the twelfth most vacation spot for Spanish exports.
“Only multilateralism and solidarity between nations can face some of these world challenges. Spain defends a world with open doorways. A world during which commerce unites our folks and makes them extra affluent,” Sánchez stated in Vietnam.
Among the merchandise that Spain acquires from China there are equipment, materials and client items. In current years, the import of automobiles and bikes have additionally acquired significance.
Spanish firms primarily chemical compounds, minerals and industrial parts. China has established itself as the principle Asian marketplace for Spanish gross sales and over 14,500 Spanish firms keep business relations with the nation.
But the figures of bilateral investments are extra balanced, though nonetheless modest.
In 2023, China assigned 131 million euros to initiatives in Spain, whereas Spanish investments in China reached 91 million euros.
Although the volumes are nonetheless small, each economies keep rising curiosity in strengthening hyperlinks in strategic sectors reminiscent of know-how, power and logistics.
China involves the protection of Sánchez
When he was requested of the criticisms of the United States Treasury Secretary of the Visit of Sánchez, the spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry Lin Jian replied firmly: “If we discuss” slicing the mutual throat “, it’s exactly the United States which, abusing charges to threaten and b.
ANNOUNCEMENTDuring a press convention on Thursday, Lin additionally said that commerce between Spain and China is essential for either side, with bilateral commerce between the 2 nations exceeding 44 billion euros in 2024, whereas Spanish exports to China elevated by 4.3% final 12 months, based on Beijing information.
Faced with Washington’s criticisms, Spain’s socialist authorities defended openings in China.
The minister of agriculture Luis Planas insisted that Spain has wonderful business relations with China, which “we need to clearly not solely proceed, however to broaden”.
