SPANISH Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez vowed to ‘protect’ his country’s workers from Donald Trump’s tariffs.
The comments came after he sat down with industry leaders and trade unions ahead of Trump’s press conference on Wednesday afternoon.
Just moments before Trump began his speech, the Socialist PSOE leader wrote on X: ‘Today I met with our country’s leading employers and unions to discuss the tariffs proposed by the US administration and the possible domestic and European response.
‘Spain will protect its businesses and workers and continue to champion an open world.’
During an hour-long appearance at the White House, Trump confirmed a 10% tariff on all foreign imports.
He then revealed ‘reciprocal’ tariffs for the ‘worst offenders’, which will be paid on top, including 20% for the EU (including Spain) and 10% for the UK.
Sanchez will present his ‘contingency plan’ on Thursday after spending the night crunching the numbers and weighing up a response.
Earlier on Wednesday he met with the presidents of CEOE and Cepyme, Antonio Garamendi and Gerardo Cuerva, and the general secretaries of trade unions including CCOO and UGT, Unai Sordo and Pepe Alvarez.
Also present was Second Vice President and Labour Minister Yolanda Diaz, plus tourism minister Jordi Hereu, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food Luis Planas and the Minister of Economy, Trade, and Business Carlos Cuerpo.
Sanchez has previously said a trade war between Spain and the US was ‘not desirable’, but that Brussels would provide the ‘necessary response’.
Trump’s trade tariffs have raised alarms among Spain’s most important sectors, particularly agriculture, wine and olive oil.
