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Spain sees room to negotiate tariffs with the U.S. but without ‘pressure’ or ‘threat’

by AI | 24.Mar 2025 | Europe in brief AI

He believes that trade policy should “maintain existing markets and expand them,” for which he hopes to “diversify commercial sales to third countries.”

Spanish Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, presents the XXII International Fair of Olive Oil and Related Industries (Expoliva), at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, on March 17, 2025, in Madrid (Spain). Photo: Carlos Luján / Europa Press

Brussels – The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of the Government of Spain, Luis Planas, stated this Monday that he sees room for negotiations with the United States regarding the tariffs that the Trump Administration wants to apply to European products, but warned that the EU will not do so under “pressure” or “threat” and that the bloc will be “firm” in defending its interests.

“We are calm about this and believe that there is always room to negotiate if one wishes, but, obviously, not under pressure or, certainly, under any kind of threat,” Planas indicated upon his arrival at the meeting of EU Ministers of Agriculture and Fisheries held in the Belgian capital.

The Spanish minister made this statement about the threat from the President of the United States, Donald Trump, to impose a 200% tariff on wine and alcohol from the EU and Washington’s intention to apply tariffs on agricultural products from April 2, whose tariff has not yet been specified.

For its part, the EU, which had announced tariffs worth up to 26 billion euros on a wide range of products from the United States in response to Trump’s tariffs, decided to delay the 50% tariff on whisky until mid-April to give more time for negotiations.

“We are following with responsibility everything that is happening on the other side of the Atlantic; with responsibility and in some cases with concern,” Planas acknowledged, who warned that the Twenty-Seven will be “very attentive” in the “very firm defense” of their interests.

Nevertheless, he insisted that the bloc is “always willing to talk and negotiate with the United States,” but emphasized that it will not do so “evidently, not under pressure or, certainly, under any kind of threat.”

“It is a reality that there is concern,” admitted the minister, who argues that trade policy must “maintain existing markets and expand them,” for which he hopes to “diversify commercial sales to third countries” through “great opportunities” like the agreements reached with the Mercosur countries or with India. (March 24)