The Minister of Economy, Carlos Cuerpo, travels to Washington to meet with a high-ranking official from Donald Trump who criticized the Spanish Government for its approach to China. Cuerpo states that he will be received this Tuesday by the US Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, according to a statement he made to correspondents released by the Ministry.
The Minister frames the meeting as "strengthening bilateral relations between Spain and the US". "We will address all relevant bilateral issues", affirms Cuerpo, although in his opinion, the state of relations between both countries "is currently at one of its best moments". Bessent criticized the Spanish Government's approach to China on the 9th in a colloquium with the American Bankers Association and in an interview with Fox News. He believes it is "like cutting one's own throat" and "a wrong bet".
According to the Treasury Secretary, what European countries should do is confront the Chinese model of "exporting subsidized low-cost products".
Cuerpo tries to mitigate the displeasure caused in Washington by the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez's trip to China, which Xi Jinping used to criticize the White House. As reported by this newspaper, the US has put the Spanish Government under surveillance following its policy with Beijing and military spending. Ministry sources indicate that the meeting was already arranged a few weeks ago. This means that Bessent launched his criticisms already knowing that he would see Cuerpo a few days later. The government official will have to travel to the US twice in just one week. Once for this meeting with Bessent and the second next Monday for the spring meeting of the International Monetary Fund.
The Minister of Economy ensures that his trip "is coordinated and fits very well with the European Commission". His visit to the US comes a day after the one made by the Trade Commissioner, Maros Sefcovic, to initiate negotiations to dispel Donald Trump's tariff threat to the EU, which has been postponed for 90 days.
According to Cuerpo, "we need to see if we are able to achieve a balanced and negotiated agreement that would be very beneficial for everyone." And he has stated that he supports what the European envoy has put on the table during his visit to contain the rise in tariffs on European countries.
The Minister will also take advantage of his trip to meet with the President of the World Bank, Ajay Banga, and "representatives of US companies with interests in Spain." The US multinational community is also concerned that Spain has come under negative scrutiny from the White House.