The power vacuum of the Generalitat in the United States in the Trump era

BarcelonaDonald Trump's return to the White House has turned the international stage. While the new Republican president redefines geopolitical and commercial alliances, Catalonia has a vacant position as the head of the Generalitat's delegation in the United States and Canada, which will take place on January 1, 2025. The delegate since 2019, Isidre Sala, left by unilateral decision of Salvador I's government. Sala's contract expired in September 2025, but the Catalan government terminated it early, arguing that it wanted to change the delegation's "priorities" and renew it after six years with the same person at the helm. His departure, announced in November along with that of Southeast Europe, has plunged the Generalitat into a power vacuum in the United States that has been ongoing for months. in the midst of a trade war and during a time of shift in immigration policy, which could affect Catalans who live, work, and study in the country. Before learning that he would be dismissed, the delegate had warned that, given the possible changes in the White House, his replacement had to be prepared in advance.

In this context, sources from the Ministry of the European Union and Foreign Affairs told ARA that they are awaiting the outcome of the public competition to select a new delegate, a process they want to be "careful" given the importance of the United States for Catalonia: it is the country's largest trading partner outside the European Union. However, they emphasize that the team from the Generalitat delegation—with four people in Washington, two in New York, and one in Canada—has not stopped. They have intensified their attention to Catalans and Americans concerned about the conditions of entry and exit into the country, maintain dialogue with international organizations such as the UN, and are already preparing one of the network's major events of the year abroad, the celebration of Sant Jordi Day. The delegation is also responsible for logistically organizing visits by public officials and paving the way for Catalan researchers and universities that want to undertake projects in the country.

However, various sources familiar with the internal workings of the office consulted by ARA warn of the dysfunctions of not having a delegate. There is no visible face to send to meetings and gatherings, and, furthermore, it means that they remain in standby Relations that made significant progress during the previous term, for example, with California and Massachusetts. "When a delegation doesn't have a delegate, it doesn't work," says a source who has held the top position in the Foreign Affairs Department. The sources consulted also point to an added difficulty: the incorporation of the delegate could take "many months" if they don't have a visa to work in the country. The government refuses to say whether this is the case or not and suggests that the new project for the delegation will be redefined once the new head is elected. It remains to be seen what position the delegation will defend with the United States government, after the Minister for European Union and Foreign Affairs, Jaume Duch, has been particularly belligerent toward the president. whom he has accused of having "authoritarian tics", and that the socialists have already had a first clash for a grant to a library in Barcelona.

Following twenty companies

Beyond the delegation's political priorities, the other major area of activity for the Generalitat in the United States is through the offices of Acció, which reports to the Ministry of Business and Employment. The department has activated a specific program to assist Catalan companies affected by Trump's new policy; in two months, he has provided around twenty personalized consultations, sources from this organization explained to ARA. The great concern is the impact of tariffs on steel and aluminum in companies in the automotive, household goods, and machinery sectors. But, for the first time, companies that until now hadn't felt the need to participate are also knocking on Accion's door, for example in the pharmaceutical sector. For the moment, none are considering leaving the market, as this would mean breaking current contracts with their distributors. However, Catalan companies are already considering activating contingency plans with Accion and reconsidering their long-term continuity, especially if Trump's tariff threat on other sectors comes to fruition. The biggest losers are Catalan wine and cava producers, which have much tighter profits and have the United States as their main international market.