President Trump said Wednesday he ordered Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to halt trade with Spain over NATO obligations, repeating a directive first issued in March that had no effect, according to journalist Assaf Rosenzweig. The Spanish Prime Minister's Office said it regards the directive as 'business as usual' and described bilateral relations as 'excellent', noting that trade is conducted by private companies.
President Trump repeated his directive to halt trade with Spain over NATO obligations, a move first ordered in March without any effect on actual trade, which continued as usual. The Spanish Prime Minister's Office responded by dismissing the order as a routine matter, stressing that bilateral relations remain 'excellent' and that trade is conducted by private companies, not governments.
As The Zioneer reported earlier today (14:26, 14:28 Jerusalem), Trump had made the same statement and Spain's office had issued a similar response. The latest report, from journalist Assaf Rosenzweig, confirms the earlier accounts. The directive, if implemented, would mark a significant escalation in US-Spain trade relations, but the March precedent strongly suggests immediate impact is unlikely.
8 developments
- StrongSpain's PM office says US ties 'excellent', treats Trump's directive as 'business as usual'
- DevelopingTrump threatens to not renew USMCA trade deal with Canada and Mexico
- DevelopingUS ambassador to NATO: Trump disappointed with Spain
- DevelopingTrump says he is 'disappointed' with Italy, UK, Germany; calls Spain a 'shame show'
Source and signal
- Internal intake