politics
Trump Says Spain Reversed Course on Payments After He Called for Cutting All Trade
President Donald Trump called for cutting all trade with Spain on July 8 over NATO defense spending but later praised the country after meeting its prime minister. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said July 9 that Trump retains authority under IEEPA to halt trade yet may choose not to act.
Jul 9, 11:33 AM·1m read1 source
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President Donald Trump indicated a possible softening toward Spain after meeting its prime minister, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said July 9. Greer told reporters that Trump could use the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to cut off trade with Spain, the same law behind earlier tariff attempts that the Supreme Court struck down in February.
Greer added that the law has long allowed presidents to prohibit trade, as it currently does with North Korea, but stressed that Trump may no longer want to take that step. The shift follows Trump's July 8 remarks at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, where he called Spain a terrible partner and said he wanted nothing to do with the country.
" Spain has rejected a NATO proposal to raise defense spending to 5 percent of GDP as unreasonable, while Trump has demanded that all allies meet that target.
Trump met Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez during the summit and later described the discussion as good, focusing on core payment issues, Greer said. " Greer said he had heard positive developments on the payment front. Top exports from Spain to the United States include refined petroleum, pharmaceuticals, and electrical transformers, according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity.
It remained unclear what specific commitments Spain had made.
