Trump Orders Trade Halt With Spain Over NATO Budget & Iran War

Matichon•International•19d ago

Reader Briefing

President Trump has ordered an immediate halt to all trade with Spain, citing dissatisfaction with Spain's defense spending and its stance on the Iran war.

•US President Donald Trump has ordered a complete suspension of trade with Spain.
•The decision stems from disputes over Spain's defense budget contributions to NATO and its refusal to allow the use of its airspace and bases for the Iran war.
•The US Treasury and Commerce Departments are to identify Spanish exports that could be banned.
•Despite previous similar threats, trade relations remained normal.

Overview

•On Wednesday, July 8, President Donald Trump ordered an immediate halt to all trade with Spain.
•The action was taken due to Spain's perceived disagreement on NATO budget spending and its stance on the Iran war.
•President Trump stated, 'I don't want to trade with them, understand?' and 'I don't want anything to do with Spain anymore. Cut all trade with Spain, including visits.'
•This action escalates tensions between the two NATO allies, despite EU rules requiring trade negotiations to be conducted on behalf of the entire bloc.
•The US Treasury will collaborate with the Commerce Department and USTR to prepare a list of Spanish exports for potential import bans, to be presented to Trump within days.
•This is reportedly the second time Trump has ordered a trade suspension with Spain over defense budget commitments.
•Following a similar announcement in March, trade between the US and Spain continued as normal without any suspension of Spanish goods purchases.
•Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that Spain remains a credible NATO ally and will send additional troops to Finland.

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Key Quotes

Donald Trump

"I don't want to trade with them, understand?"

ผมไม่ต้องการทำการค้ากับพวกเขา เข้าใจไหม?

Donald Trump

"I don't want anything to do with Spain anymore. Cut all trade with Spain, including visits. Okay?"

ผมไม่ต้องการมีอะไรเกี่ยวข้องกับสเปนอีก ตัดการค้ากับสเปนทั้งหมด รวมถึงการเดินทางไปเยือนด้วย ตกลงไหม?

Donald Trump

"Spain doesn’t agree with anything, and you shouldn’t carry them."

สเปนไม่เห็นด้วยกับอะไรเลย และคุณก็ไม่ควรแบกพวกเขาไว้

Pedro Sánchez

"Spain remains a credible NATO ally."

สเปนยังคงเป็นพันธมิตรนาโตที่น่าเชื่อถือ

Key Entities

Person

Donald Trump(โดนัลด์ ทรัมป์)ℹ️

President of the United States who ordered a trade halt with Spain.

Mark Rutte(มาร์ก รุตเตอ)ℹ️

Secretary General of NATO who attempted to de-escalate tensions with Trump.

Pedro Sánchez(เปโดร ซานเชซ)ℹ️

Prime Minister of Spain who has had disputes with Trump over military cooperation.

Scott Bassent(สก็อตต์ เบสเซนต์)

US Secretary of the Treasury tasked with preparing a list of Spanish exports for potential import bans.

Jennifer Hillman(เจนนิเฟอร์ ฮิลล์แมน)

Former member of the WTO's appeals body and an expert on economic law.

Place

Spain(สเปน)ℹ️

NATO member nation with whom the US has halted trade.

Iran(อิหร่าน)ℹ️

Nation involved in a conflict regarding which Spain did not allow the US to use its airspace and bases.

Ankara(อังการา)ℹ️

Location of a NATO summit where Trump reiterated his dispute with Spain.

Greenland(กรีนแลนด์)ℹ️

Territory over which Trump reasserted claims during a NATO summit.

Finland(ฟินแลนด์)ℹ️

Nation to which Spain will send additional troops for the NATO Arctic Sentry mission.

Organization

NATO(นาโต)ℹ️

North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a military alliance whose budget spending is a point of contention.

European Union(สหภาพยุโรป)ℹ️

Bloc whose rules dictate that trade negotiations with non-EU countries must be conducted on behalf of the entire group.

World Trade Organization (WTO)(องค์การการค้าโลก)ℹ️

Organization for which Jennifer Hillman formerly served on the appeals body.

Law

International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA)(กฎหมายว่าด้วยอำนาจทางเศรษฐกิจในภาวะฉุกเฉินระหว่างประเทศ)ℹ️

US law that President Trump might use to declare a ban on imports from Spain.