As US tariffs on European Union items go into effect, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has made a diplomatic trip to Asia. He is going to Vietnam.
On Wednesday, Sánchez will arrive in Hanoi to meet with To Lam, Vietnam’s leading head. Sánchez may travel to Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday to meet with company leaders to improve relationships between Spain and Vietnam and discuss possible investment opportunities.
The chief of Spain may travel to China on Friday for his next visit in as many decades. He is scheduled to meet with President Xi Jinping and a number of Chinese investors it.
After Beijing refused to halt punitive measures, US President Trump on Tuesday imposed an extra 50 % tax on Chinese products. These actions have increased the US tariffs on Chinese imports by 104 % overall.
Sánchez has recently criticized China while being less supportive of another EU leaders. He advocated for good and healthy deal rules during a visit to Beijing in September 2024, asking the Union to reconsider its plans to establish high tariffs on Chinese energy cars. In response, the European Union argued that the taxes were necessary to shield local companies from unfavorable opposition from state-supported Chinese companies.
Brussels, nevertheless, has lately expressed a desire to boost cooperation with Beijing. Ursula von der Leyen, president of the EU Commission, called for” creative relationship with China” after Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January. Maros Sefcovic, the EU’s trade commissioner, even traveled to China to demand a more tolerant and joint trade arrangement.
Pedro Sánchez is the first Union president to travel to the area since Donald Trump’s re-election. His journey signals the start of what might be a wider political force from Europe as they look to Asia for other partnerships and business opportunities.
