Spanish Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo is set to meet with US official Scott Bessent on Tuesday, just days after the US Treasury Secretary voiced concerns about Spain’s potential shift towards closer ties with China, as per Bloomberg.
Cuerpo, speaking to foreign correspondents on Monday, described the meeting as part of normal diplomatic relations between the two countries and aimed at strengthening bilateral ties. He emphasized that the meeting is not intended for tariff negotiations, as these are managed by the European Union’s trade commissioner, and Spain fully supports the EU’s trade policy.
The meeting comes amid heightened global trade tensions, with Bessent recently warning the European Union that deepening ties with China would be akin to “cutting your own throat.” Spain has found itself in a key position in this debate, particularly after Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on April 11th during a pre-arranged trip.
In recent years, Sanchez has advocated for the EU, and Spain in particular, to pursue a stronger partnership with China while simultaneously addressing the bloc’s trade deficit with the Asian nation. Although Spain has expressed criticism of the recent tariffs imposed by the US President Donald Trump’s administration, it has also stated its opposition to any form of trade war and its desire to avoid retaliatory tariffs.
Meanwhile, high-ranking EU officials are planning to meet with Xi Jinping later this year as part of an EU-China summit, likely to take place in July, according to sources familiar with the matter.
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