Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is currently on a two-country tour of Asia, with a stop in Beijing following a visit to Vietnam. During his trip, Sánchez addressed the ongoing tariff tensions between the US and China, praising Trump’s temporary pause on levies as a potential for negotiation and agreement between countries.
Despite warnings from the White House against getting too close to Beijing, Sánchez is the first European leader to make an official visit to China since the tariff conflicts began. Trade between Spain and China has been increasing, with China becoming Spain’s fourth-largest trading partner, though with an imbalance in favor of China.
Spanish imports from China exceed exports significantly, with China being Spain’s second-largest supplier of goods but only the twelfth-largest destination for Spanish exports. Both economies, however, have shown growing interest in strengthening ties in sectors such as technology, energy, and logistics.
When faced with criticism from the US Treasury Secretary over the visit, the Chinese Foreign Ministry came to Sánchez’s defense, accusing the United States of using tariffs to threaten and blackmail other countries.
During a press conference, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson highlighted the importance of trade between Spain and China, with bilateral trade exceeding €44 billion in 2024. Despite the criticism, Spain’s socialist government has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding trade relations with China, particularly in sectors such as agriculture.
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