Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Gaza Media Office: Bloody spectacle shows that these zones have become collective death traps rather than aid distribution zones.
Gaza Media Office: Dozens of citizens are still surrounded under constant fire in the vicinity of the "aid station."
Gaza Media Office: As soon as citizens arrived, occupation and Americans opened direct fire on them.
Gaza Media Office: Occupation, in complicity with the US company, called on citizens to move toward Wadi Gaza Bridge, claiming that aid would be distributed.
Gaza Government Media Office: Occupation set a bloody trap at bridge of Wadi Gaza, luring thousands of starved civilians, and opened fire on them.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli drone drops sonic grenade in town of Ramiyah.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli drone strike targets vehicle in town of Beit Lif.
The Government Media Office in Gaza: The occupation’s latest crime is further evidence of its ongoing implementation of genocide through starvation.
Gaza Government Media Office: This is a methodical use of aid as a tool of war to blackmail hungry civilians.
Gaza Government media office: Massacre committed by occupation today is a blatant war crime under international law.

Spain PM visits China, Vietnam amid US tariff crisis

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 8 Apr 2025 11:50
4 Min Read

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez embarks on a visit to China and Vietnam this week, seeking new market opportunities amid the global disruption caused by US tariffs.

Listen
  • x
  • Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez speaks during a media conference at the end of an EU summit in Brussels, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP)Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez speaks during a media conference at the end of an EU summit in Brussels, on Thursday, March 20, 2025.. (AP)

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is aiming to explore new market opportunities during his visit to China and Vietnam this week, following the sweeping tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump. The trip comes at a time when the European Union is reevaluating its global trading relationships amid the turmoil triggered by Trump’s new import duties, which have caused significant disruption in global markets.

Sanchez will first visit Hanoi on Wednesday for talks with Vietnam’s top leader, To Lam, coinciding with the start of Trump’s 20% tariffs on EU products. He will then head to Ho Chi Minh City to meet with business leaders before traveling to China for the third time in just over two years, where he plans to meet President Xi Jinping and Chinese investors on Friday.

The wider context

China and Vietnam currently have a significant trade surplus with Spain. Last week, Trump announced that he would impose a 34% tariff on China in addition to a 20% levy, and on Monday, he threatened to escalate tariffs to 50% from Wednesday if China did not withdraw its retaliatory measures. Vietnam, which will be hit with a 46% tariff, is also a key focus of Sanchez’s visit.

The rollout of US #tariffs against numerous countries, allies and foes, has sent shockwaves through the world.

On April 2nd, US President Donald #Trump announced tariffs that would affect approximately 60 countries.

Here's how some of these countries reacted to America's… pic.twitter.com/8rTm5Cr6F0

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) April 3, 2025

Related News

Trump to raise steel and aluminum tariffs to 50%

Court revives tariffs as legal battle over Trump's powers grows

Sanchez had previously diverged from the EU’s stance during his last trip to China in September 2024, calling for the EU to reconsider plans to impose high tariffs on Chinese electric cars. He argued for a "fair trade order," but the EU emphasized these tariffs were necessary to protect European producers from state-backed Chinese firms. 

“Inés Arco, an Asia specialist at the Barcelona Centre for International Affairs, noted that Sanchez "has tried to present himself as a bridge between Brussels and China and to be one of the voices calling for pragmatism." However, Spain’s conservative opposition, including Alberto Nunez Feijoo, leader of the Popular Party, criticized Sanchez for acting independently, accusing him of mistakenly trying to shift from reliance on the US to China too quickly.

Sanchez seeks to balance trade and boost investments in China

The EU, however, has recently signaled a desire for smoother ties with Beijing. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen has called for “constructive engagement with China,” and trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic recently visited China to "promote a more balanced and cooperative trade relationship."

Sanchez’s primary objective is to reduce Spain’s trade imbalance with China. Spain imports around 45 billion euros worth of goods from China each year, but only exports about 7.4 billion euros.

Miguel Otero from the Elcano Royal Institute stated that the trip’s “clear objective” is to increase Spain’s exports to China. Sanchez also hopes to attract more green tech investment, with Chinese carmaker Chery planning to open its first European electric vehicle factory in Barcelona. Additionally, BYD, another Chinese automaker, is considering investing in Europe, and Spain could be a potential location.

Spanish Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo emphasized that Spain is looking to "negotiate agreements" with China to open up markets while ensuring "our companies, our industries play on a level playing field."

Read more: Trump warns China of more tariffs, Beijing decries 'economic bullying'

  • US tariffs
  • United States
  • Global economy
  • Spain
  • China
  • Vietnam
  • Donald Trump

Most Read

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrive to a news conference in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington (AP)

Rift widens: Trump, Netanyahu clash in heated phone call over Iran

  • Politics
  • 26 May 2025
US judges quietly consider private security amid Trump tensions

US judges quietly consider private security amid Trump pressures

  • US & Canada
  • 25 May 2025
An Israeli army vehicle moves in the Gaza Strip as seen from southern occupied Palestine, Thursday, May 29, 2025 (AP)

Hamas rejects Witkoff ceasefire plan, says alters terms

  • Politics
  • 29 May 2025
Spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, announces a new operation against Ben Gurion Airport on May 29, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen announces successful hypersonic missile strike on Ben Gurion

  • Politics
  • 30 May 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
MIT bans class president who gave pro-Palestine speech
US & Canada

MIT bans class president over pro-Palestine speech

Arab ministers condemn Israel 'ban' on planned West Bank visit
Politics

Arab ministers condemn Israeli ban on planned West Bank visit

Major General Hu Gangfeng, Vice President, National Defense University, People's Liberation Army, China, leaves after a panel discussion during the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Politics

China blasts Hegseth, calls US top 'troublemaker' in Asia-Pacific

US activists demand shutdown of Musk's 'dirty' supercomputer: Reports
Technology

US activists demand shutdown of Musk's 'dirty' supercomputer: NBC News

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS