Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is in Beijing, his second cease on a two-country tour of Asia which comes towards a backdrop of significant geopolitical tensions because of Donald Trump’s tariff struggle.
Throughout his go to to Ho Chi Minh Metropolis in Vietnam on Wednesday, Sánchez praised the tariff pause as “a gateway to negotiation and settlement between international locations,” after Trump suspended levies on most international locations, apart from China, for 90 days.
Forward of his go to, the White Home warned the Spanish authorities towards cosying as much as Beijing.
In an interview with Fox Information on Wednesday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that seeking to China as a substitute of america can be a “shedding wager for the Europeans” and was akin to “slicing your personal throat.”
Sánchez is the primary European chief to make an official go to to China because the escalation of tariff tensions between the US and the remainder of the world.
Imbalance in favour of Beijing
Commerce ranges between Spain and China proceed to extend, however with a marked imbalance in favour of the Asian big.
In 2024, Spanish imports from China exceeded €45 billion, whereas exports barely reached €7.4 billion, in keeping with information from the Ministry of Financial system.
This locations China as Spain’s fourth-largest buying and selling accomplice, its second-largest provider of products, however solely the twelfth-largest vacation spot for Spanish exports.
“Solely multilateralism and solidarity between nations can handle these kind of international challenges. Spain defends a world with open doorways. A world wherein commerce unites our individuals and makes them extra affluent,” Sánchez stated in Vietnam.
Among the many merchandise that Spain buys from China are equipment, textiles and shopper items. Lately, the import of vehicles and bikes has additionally gained significance.
Spanish corporations primarily export chemical compounds, minerals and industrial parts. China has established itself because the main Asian marketplace for Spanish gross sales and greater than 14,500 Spanish corporations keep commerce relations with the nation.
However the bilateral funding figures are extra balanced, albeit nonetheless modest.
In 2023, China allotted €131 million to initiatives in Spain, whereas Spanish funding in China reached €91 million.
Though the volumes are nonetheless small, each economies keep a rising curiosity in strengthening ties in strategic sectors comparable to know-how, vitality, and logistics.
China involves Sánchez’s defence
When requested in regards to the US Treasury Secretary’s criticism of Sánchez’s go to, Chinese language International Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian responded firmly: “If we discuss ‘slicing one another’s throats,’ it’s exactly america that, by abusing tariffs to threaten and blackmail your entire world, is attempting to squeeze the necks of different international locations, forcing them to yield to its coverage of intimidation.”
Throughout a press convention on Thursday, Lin additionally stated that commerce between Spain and China is vital for each side, with bilateral commerce between the 2 international locations exceeding €44 billion in 2024, whereas Spanish exports to China elevated by 4.3% final yr, in keeping with Beijing’s figures.
Within the face of criticism from Washington, Spain’s socialist authorities has defended the overtures to China.
Agriculture Minister Luis Planas insisted that Spain has glorious commerce relations with China, which “we clearly need not solely to proceed, however to increase.”
