Trump Threatens to Stop Trade with Spain, EU Protects Block Interests
JAKARTA - The European Union (EU) has confirmed that it will protect the interests of the bloc and all its member countries after US President Donald Trump threatened to stop trade with Spain.
Anadolu Agency quoted Wednesday, July 8, saying the European Commission assessed that the EU-US trade relationship remained "very integrated and mutually beneficial". Transatlantic trade refers to trade relations between Europe and the United States.
"Trade between the European Union and the United States is highly integrated and mutually beneficial. Therefore, maintaining this relationship is in our common interest," said European Commission spokesman Olof Gill at a press conference in Brussels, Wednesday.
Gill said the transatlantic trade relationship was becoming more important amid global disruptions. He also stressed that the European Union expects the US to honor the commitments made in the joint statement of the two parties last year.
"The Commission will always ensure that the interests of the EU and all our member states are fully protected," Gill said.
He said the European Commission would continue to fight for a stable, predictable and mutually beneficial transatlantic trade.
"We will continue to fight for a stable, predictable and mutually beneficial transatlantic trade in the interests of all parties," Gill said.
The European Commission's statement came after Trump said he wanted to end trade with Spain. He accused Madrid of failing to meet NATO's defense spending commitments.
"We don't want to do any more business with Spain," Trump said.
Trump also called Spain a "bad partner" in NATO. He even called the country a "useless case" and "hostile".
According to Trump, Spain should have received much less revenue from the US market because its contribution to the defense alliance was considered inadequate.
The Spanish government rejected Trump's statement. Anadolu Agency said a Spanish government source said the country still has very good social, cultural and economic relations with the US.