Body defends in Washington the Spanish approach to China

“Expanding commercial relations with China does not go against anyone,” said Minister Body in press statements. “It is part of a shared European agenda, in which Spain is determined to assume a leadership role.” In this context, he recalled that Spain It has been one of the fastest growing countries of the euro in recent years and that part of that dynamic is due to its outer opening.

The minister participates in the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, which are held these days in the US capital, and will keep in the next few hours A bilateral meeting with the commercial representative of the United States, Jamieson Greer, in which, according to his team, the effects of the tariffs announced by Trump and the Spanish position within the European framework will be addressed.

The minister’s speech contrasts with the warning launched by US Treasury Secretary Scott Besent, who warned two weeks ago that those countries that try to strengthen ties with China would be “cutting their neck.” The Spanish Minister Avoid direct confrontation with the White Housebut stressed that “each country must defend their interests with autonomy.” He added that Spain has supported in Brussels a coordinated response to American protectionism, but without giving up its margin of national maneuver.

Body was seen with Besent last week, although he said that Not to negotiate anything in commercial mattersbut to treat “the bilateral relationship.” The White House later said in a statement that asked Spain in that encounter an increase in defense and relief spending in digital rates.

The Trump government since the beginning of the year a commercial pressure campaign that has included the imposition of 145% tariffs on Chinese products and 25% of European cars, steel and aluminum.

Europe, initially included in a 20% tariff to block imports, This 10% load has been reduced In full multilateral negotiations, although the threat of new increases is maintained if progress is made in agreements with Chinese technology companies.

The minister also went out of internal and external criticisms of the increase in Spanish expenditure in defense, and defended the announcement made on Monday by President Pedro Sánchez of a additional investment of 10,471 million of euros to reach 2% of GDP in 2025, as required by NATO.

“This is a matter of strategic autonomy,” explained the minister. «Spain not only fulfills its commitments as an ally, but also promotes its own industry that will generate 100,000 jobs, many of them high qualification».

The Spanish plan, which will be sent this week to Brussels and the headquarters of the alliance in Brussels, provides significant investments in cybersecuritydual capacities for civil emergencies, and the modernization of telecommunications and deterrence systems. “It is a commitment to innovation and technological sovereignty, not an arms escalation,” insisted the minister.

The IMF has warned this week that Trump’s tariff policies could reduce global growth to 2.8% in 2025, below 3.3% registered the previous year. In the case of the US, the agency has reduced its growth forecast From 2.8% to 1.8%, and has alerted a fall in foreign investment confidence.

Spain has tried to maintain an intermediate position between the Franco-German axis and the tough line of Washington. The minister insisted that cooperation with China in sectors such as renewable energies, green hydrogen and battery industry “responds to shared strategic needs” and that Spain “will continue to exercise its autonomy with responsibility and firmness.”

The meeting with Jamieson Greer will serve to try to reduce The bilateral and shielding the most exposed industrial and agrifood exports, especially those of the pig sector, one of the most dependent on the Chinese market.