The Spanish government has proposed strengthening controls on imports and e-commerce packages from Amazon, Shein, and Temu valued at up to €150. These are some of the measures that Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo presented to representatives of the 17 autonomous communities at the Interterritorial Council for Internationalization meeting, held at the Pedralbes Palace in Barcelona. Given the context of US tariff policies under Donald Trump, with imports, like exports, on the rise, and although border controls are effective and thorough, "a further step is necessary regarding industrial products to guarantee competition and consumer protection," he explained at a press conference alongside Catalan Minister Sámper. This plan, developed in coordination with the autonomous communities, aims to ensure that there are no "weak points" for the entry of products that do not meet European requirements. Therefore, they are also working in coordination with the European Commission. The intention is to expand the list of industrial products, working in conjunction with the sectors involved. And greater control over small packages, up to 150 euros, which were previously exempt from tariffs and duties, but are now not. The goal, he said, is "to ensure they compete on a level playing field with domestic products and with guarantees of consumer protection." This is especially focused on textiles, footwear, and toys. The Minister explained that a working group will be created with e-commerce platforms, such as Amazon and Shein, to address the safety of the products they sell and the creation of an early warning system in coordination with the regional governments to anticipate risks or fraud that could affect businesses. The idea, as the Minister explained to ARA, is to follow the approach used with financial institutions to prevent the closure of bank branches in rural areas and to improve services for the elderly; that is, through the involvement of the sector, rather than through mandatory regulations and laws. The Minister of Economy has announced that the foreign trade data to be published this Thursday will reflect, in terms of exports, "one of the best years in history," despite the challenges in the international arena. It is within this context of strong growth in the foreign trade sector that he has framed the measures to protect sectors and consumers from industrial products that do not comply with European regulations. For his part, Sàmper has stated that the Catalan government's plans for 2026-2030 aim to add approximately 2,000 more exporting companies to the 18,000 that currently export regularly by the end of the period. These companies will each sell to at least five countries for a minimum value of 5 million euros. Therefore, 30 million euros in aid has been allocated to 1,000 companies. The regional minister has stated that US tariff policies have affected Catalan exports to the US worth approximately €2 billion, representing 67% of total exports. This is all being done under the umbrella of diversification: exports to China, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, and other countries.

The trade war provoked by the Donald Trump administration, as well as its interventions in other countries, have heightened geopolitical tensions and disrupted traditional trade relations. In Catalonia, 67% of the €4.35 billion in exports to the United States have been affected. equivalent to 2.9% of all Catalan exports worldwideThis will be one of the main impacts on Catalonia's trade balance in 2025, and it remains to be seen whether, after two consecutive years of exports exceeding €100 billion, Catalan companies will be able to maintain this pace. To address this, the Catalan Government has launched Catalunya Exporta, a new program to help up to 2,000 companies begin their internationalization process—that is, start selling abroad for the first time. Interested companies can participate in workshops and seminars to develop skills in areas such as international operations management, financing, and the structure of an export department. For three years, they will receive support and mentoring from an international trade specialist who will develop a roadmap for them to begin exporting.

According to a study, 96% of the cost of tariffs on foreign exports to the United States is paid by American businesses and consumers. think tank German Kiel Institute. This means that 192 billion of the additional 200 billion dollars (163.6 billion and 170.4 billion euros, respectively) that were to be collected in 2025 in trade tariffs at US customs have ended up being a transfer of money from American citizens to their federal government.

Tariffs on European products imposed by US President Donald Trump have affected 2.9% of Catalan exports abroad, according to data published Tuesday by Acció, the Catalan government's foreign trade promotion agency. Exemptions to the trade tariffs agreed upon between US and European Union authorities have allowed a third of Catalan products sold in the US market to remain duty-free. According to calculations, of the €4.35 billion exported from Catalonia to the US, approximately €1.43 billion—or 33% of the total—remain tariff-free. Conversely, the remaining €2.92 billion "were subject to the tariffs" imposed by Trump, according to a statement from Acció. Compared to total Catalan exports outside of Spain, this latter figure represents 2.9% of the total exports by Catalan companies abroad. The effect of the tariffs, however, has been limited. In fact, Catalan exports to the US between January and October of last year fell by 1.9% compared to the same period in 2014. "The products most affected, for the moment, have been perfumes and cosmetics, jewelry, iron and steel manufactures, clothing, motorcycles, and meat," Acció adds in its statement.

The Catalan pig farming sector has accumulated losses of approximately €63 million so far due to the outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) detected in Vallès Occidental, according to calculations presented this Tuesday by the farmers' union Unió de Pagesos. Specifically, Catalan farmers have gone from earning approximately €20 per pig on average in 2025 to losing €36 per animal following the detection of the disease in Catalonia. These losses are due to the drop in pork prices and, above all, the loss of foreign markets outside the European Union, since pork is the country's main export industry within the agri-food sector. Furthermore, more than 61,000 head of cattle were quarantined in the province of Barcelona. European, Spanish, and international protocols against the spread of the ASF virus They limit the sale of meat abroad And they stipulate that the entire country will be considered affected by the epidemic until 12 months have passed without any new cases being detected. The fact that the sector has begun operating at a loss is causing concern among farmers. "What we can't do is produce at a loss for an extended period," said Rossend Saltiveri, head of the pig farming sector at Unió de Pagesos, at a press conference in Lleida.

The Catalan government confirmed on Friday two positive cases of African swine fever (ASF) in two wild boars found dead this week in the municipality of Cerdanyola del Vallès (Vallès Occidental), and has therefore activated its contingency plan against the disease, according to a statement from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The plan's measures include an immediate ban on pork exports outside the EU. These two cases are currently the only ones found in Spain, so there is no evidence that the disease is affecting any farms in Catalonia. "So far, no outbreaks have been detected in domestic animals in Catalonia," the Ministry of Agriculture stated in a press release. However, at a press conference, the Catalan Minister of Agriculture, Òscar Ordeig, stated that there is a "high" probability of new cases being found in Catalonia. The last case detected in the state was in 1994.

"From an economic standpoint, it's certainly not a good agreement, but it's more or less tolerable. The political cost is another matter." With these words, he described the trade agreement between Brussels and Washington Ignacio García Bercero, analyst at the think tank Bruegel and for 35 years EU trade negotiator. At an event this Thursday at the Círculo de Economía (Circle of Economy) on the impact of tariffs, García Bercero lamented the European Commission's strategy in the face of the aggressive trade offensive by the US government under Donald Trump: "It has given a certain image of weakness to the EU," he opined, since the EU has ended up signing an agreement that is "just an agreement."

The import of cars, especially those from China, is driving freight traffic at the Port of Barcelona, ​​which closed the first 10 months of the year with a 4.6% increase compared to the same period in 2014. This data consolidates the growth that began in September. This trend is due to the sharp increase in imports, which have risen by 35.6%, largely driven by the boom in vehicle arrivals from the Asian giant. The Port Authority highlights the arrival of new ships in Barcelona. car-caller, "which significantly improve service capacity, along with a rebound in sales in the European vehicle market and the growing import of Chinese cars," are facilitating the recovery of this traffic.

Cava could do more to boost exports, especially from smaller wineries. "They're not interested in the international market," stated María Naranjo, director of the food industry at ICEX (the Spanish State Foreign Trade Agency), during the 2nd Cava Meeting, an international gathering organized by the Cava Designation of Origin (DO) in Avinyonet del Penedès (Alt Penedès) that brought together more than 100 wineries. Although 64% of Cava production was already destined for export in 2024, Naranjo perceives a "lack of international focus" among smaller wineries. ICEX considers two wines "iconic" in Spain, Sherry and Cava, and has specific projects to increase their visibility. In the case of Cava alone, Naranjo stated that ICEX has had to cancel scheduled activities due to a "lack of business interest" from the wineries invited to participate. These events were to be held in countries such as the United Kingdom, Japan, China, and the United States. Regarding the reasons, Naranjo admitted that small wineries "run out of time" trying to keep up with everything, but there are also solutions for developing an export-oriented approach, such as the one implemented in the Rías Baixas DO, where companies with international departments work for several wineries simultaneously. Only Cavas with superior aging potential—at least 18 months—participated in the Cava Meeting, and Naranjo added that, despite the existence of these wine "gems," wineries also "lack the confidence to venture abroad." The two souls of the DO

He president of the DO Cava, Javier PagésHe stated that abroad, "it's unacceptable that people say we haven't visited them," which he described as "unforgivable," and called for seizing the opportunity presented by the growing consumption of sparkling wines, which is bucking the general decline in wine sales. The meeting also highlighted the diverse perspectives within the Cava industry: while Luciano García-Carrión, owner of the group that produces Jaume Serra Cava, argued that selling more bottles is "the best scenario" for everyone in the sector, smaller wineries called for better differentiation between the various regions that make up the state-owned Cava region, as well as for longer aging processes.

]]>

China announced Wednesday that it is suspending for one year the 24% "additional tariff" it had imposed on goods imported from the United States, a decision that falls within the framework of the trade agreements reached last week by the presidents of both countries, Xi Jinping and Donald Trump. In this regard, the Chinese government's tariff commission stated in a press release that the suspension of the tariff aims to "implement the results and consensus reached in the economic and trade consultations between China and the United States." The measure will take effect on November 10, and until then, an additional 10% tariff will remain in place on certain US products entering Chinese territory, although Beijing did not specify which ones.

]]>

The Spanish economy continued to grow during the summer at a rate significantly higher than that of most other European countries. Business investment and household consumption were the two main drivers of growth at a time when the external sector (exports and tourism) slowed its activity.

]]>

The entry into force of Donald Trump's new tariffs in the European Union is already being felt in Catalonia's sales in the United States. In August, Catalan exports to the United States fell 30.9% compared to the same period in August 2024, to €223.6 million, as published this Thursday by the Ministry of Economy through the DataComex platform. The White House's new tariff policy came into effect on August 7, following a trade agreement reached with Brussels, and involved the application of a 15% tariff on all European products shipped to the United States.

]]>

Donald Trump's new tariffs in the European Union have prompted companies to start looking to other markets. The push for diversification, in fact, is one of the key elements of the Spanish and Catalan governments' shock plan to address the new US tariff policy, although it is a market they do not want to abandon. as evidenced by the meetings between Pedro Sánchez's government and the Trump administration.

]]>

Exports from Catalonia totaled €9.201 billion in July, a 0.5% drop compared to the same month last year, according to data published Tuesday by the Ministry of Economy. Imports, meanwhile, grew 7.6%, reaching €10.376 billion. As a result of this development, the Catalan trade deficit stood at €1.175 billion in the seventh month of the year.

]]>

Miquel Sàmper, Minister of Business and Employment of the Generalitat (Catalan Government), believes that the threat of the trade war unleashed by Donald Trump can be transformed into an opportunity for growth and market diversification for Catalonia and its companies. The government will mobilize €25 million in direct aid. The goal is to reach 19,000 Catalan companies that regularly export (with sales abroad in the last four years) and to open 300 subsidiaries of Catalan companies abroad, adding to the existing ones to reach 3,500. What is the international trade strategy?

]]>

Despite the trade war launched by Donald Trump a few months ago, the effects of the tariffs are yet to be determined. Catalonia, although not directly exposed to the US economy, accounting for 4.3% of its total exports, could be particularly impacted in its exports to the automotive, chemical, and food sectors. For the time being, the Principality maintains positive trade dynamics: from January to June, Catalonia increased its exports and, above all, its imports, which has led to an increase in the negative trade balance, i.e., the trade deficit, of 31.87% to €7,062.7 million.

]]>

After sowing panic in the markets for weeks with its unpredictable twists and turns, at least in the early hours, the world's major stock markets do not seem to be suffering too much from the effect of Donald Trump's new tariffs on the European Union. The continent's most important indexes, with the exception of London (the United Kingdom is outside the EU), closed Thursday's session with moderate gains, despite the entry into force of the new taxes imposed by the President of the United States.

]]>

The Catalan wine sector has received with concern confirmation that its exports to the United States will receive tariffs of 15%, but celebrates that the trade agreement reached between Brussels and Washington serves to restore certainty to the market. "We would like it to be 0%, but we hope it's definitive," says Joan Huguet, president of the Penedès Designation of Origin (DO), regarding the new tax.

]]>

While waiting for Brussels to publish more details, for now it is known that the trade agreement The agreement reached between European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and US President Donald Trump will finally set tariffs on European products sold in the US at 15%. The fact that it's a US federal tax on products manufactured in the European Union may raise questions about who should pay it, when, and who is most directly affected.

]]>

The tariffs imposed by the United States government on products manufactured in European Union countries could have a negative impact on Spanish exports worth €15.1 billion, although if the indirect impact were added, the figure could rise to €22.7 billion, as explained by the Minister of the Corps this Monday in an appearance before the Congress of Deputies.

]]>