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Trump orders a halt to US trade with Spain
politico.eu • • general
Key Points:
- U.S. President Donald Trump announced he is cutting off trade with Spain due to disagreements over Spain's defense spending, reigniting tensions between Washington and Madrid.
- The dispute stems from Spain's refusal to endorse NATO's 2035 target of spending 5% of GDP on defense, a stance that has angered the U.S. and led to threats of tariffs.
- Trump criticized Spain as a poor NATO partner, accusing the country of not participating or paying adequately, and called for a complete halt to trade and visits.
- The practicality of Trump's trade cutoff is uncertain since Spain is part of the EU, which controls trade policy for its member states.
- The feud is further complicated by Spain's opposition to U.S. military actions in Iran and refusal to allow U.S. military base use, deepening diplomatic strains.
