The EU warns that it is "prepared to act" in response to Trump's latest attacks on Spain

BrusselsThe European Commission is escalating its criticism of Donald Trump and its defense of Spain. Brussels issued a new statement Tuesday morning, reiterating its support for the Spanish government after... the trade threats of the US president against Spain. "If necessary, we are prepared to act to safeguard the EU's interests," notes Olof Gill, the European Commission's trade spokesperson, in the statement. Brussels also emphasizes that it "will ensure that the interests of the European Union are fully protected," including those of Spain, and points out that it remains "in full solidarity with all member states and their citizens." In this regard, the European Commission recalls that competence in foreign trade policy lies with the European Union and, therefore, the European club functions as a collective in trade matters. If one member state is attacked, all twenty-seven are attacked. Thus, if the United States wants to sever trade relations with Spain or, for example, stop importing products that the country exports substantially, such as olive oil or wine, they must reopen the trade war with the EU as a whole.

European Commission Vice-President Teresa Ribera has been one of the harshest voices against the Trump administration and has gone a step further than the EU executive's statement by prescribing "firmness" in the face of the US president's threats to cut off trade relations with Spain. "We saw something similar a month ago, with threats regarding Greenland. The important thing is to stand firm," the Spanish socialist said in an interview on Cadena SER radio.

The European Commission's statement also takes the opportunity to reaffirm the importance of transatlantic trade relations and advocates for "safeguarding" them, especially in the current context of "global disruption." "Trade between the European Union and the United States is deeply integrated and mutually beneficial," Gill insists. Brussels also issues a warning to Trump regarding his constant policy shifts and calls for maintaining "stable and predictable transatlantic relations" that "benefit everyone." It's worth remembering that this is not the first time Trump has threatened Spain with trade reprisals. The US president also announced similar sanctions that ultimately came to nothing after Sánchez refused to increase military spending to 5% of gross domestic product (GDP), as the other NATO members have committed to. This time, the Republican leader's attacks came after Pedro Sánchez asserted that the US and Israeli offensive against Iran violates international law, and after his refusal to allow the Pentagon to use the Rota and Morón de la Frontera military bases to attack the Iranian regime.

The EU-US trade agreement stalled

The European Commission is repeatedly urging the White House to stop threatening the EU with new tariffs or trade sanctions and to implement the trade agreement reached by both parties last summer. The pact is already clearly favorable to Washington's interests: European imports into the US will be subject to a 15% tariff, while US imports into the EU will remain duty-free. Furthermore, the EU has committed to purchasing €700 billion worth of energy products, such as gas and oil, from the United States over the next three years.

However, faced with Trump's constant attacks against the EU and some of its member states, the European Parliament has postponed the vote to ratify the trade agreement between the two transatlantic powers three times, thus stalling the pact's final approval. The parliamentary majority in the European Parliament maintains that it does not intend to bring it to a vote, much less give it its approval, until it is certain that the White House will honor its commitments and not increase tariffs on EU goods. Nevertheless, both the European Commission and a large number of member states, including Spain, are urging the European Parliament to process the agreement as soon as possible, thereby compelling Trump to comply with the agreement and preventing him from reigniting the trade war against the bloc.