The president of the United States Chamber of Commerce in Spain, Jaime Malethas warned that the “tariff wars” between Europe and the US “are here to stay” after Donald Trump’s victory on the other side of the Atlantic.
In statements to the program Converses of Cope Catalunya and AndorraMalet has empathized with the “fear” that different economic sectors may feel because “Spanish exporters are going to see that in American supermarkets their wines will suddenly be 10 or 20% more expensive.”
The spokesperson explained that these companies “they are going to lose competitiveness with the wine that is made in California, but not with the wine that is made in Chile, or with the wine that is made in Italy, or the wine that is made in France, because that wine will also have 10% or 20%. % more cost”.
Investment opportunities
Despite the trade conflict, Malet has indicated that the US presents investment opportunities for the national productive fabric. “We have very competitive companies, but the Spanish company lacks dimension,” he explained. “To gain dimension you have to invest there, be persistent, do things well, that has a very big prize. If you manage to succeed in the United States, you become a global player,” he assured.
“We have wind, sun and space. No European country can compete with us in attracting sustainable industry because they do not have those three factors. Furthermore, Spain has ports in the Mediterranean, in the Atlantic and is far from Ukraine,” he said. remembered.
Defense policy
On the other hand, Malet has indicated that the victory of the Republican Party will imply a change in the defense policy of European countries. “The United States is an island that has Mexico below, Canada above, and on both sides the Atlantic and the Pacific. And always, since the time of Washington, there has been a very great drive to stay within its own borders,” he said.
“I think there will be a lot of pressure for Europeans to coordinate and be able to meet defense needs, which taking into account where we are located in the world, are very large,” he reflected.
Regarding the polarization of American societyMalet has pointed out that in a certain way it has become “Spanish” or “Catalanized”, in reference to the social climate experienced during the processes. “I liked that in his speech Trump said that he was going to do everything possible to unite the country again. It is very necessary because the US is very disunited, people do not speak to each other, families are broken… but there is a basic feeling patriotic spirit that makes it possible to think about reconciliation,” he wished.
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