The President of the United States Chamber of Commerce in Spain, Jaime Maletwarned that the “Tariff wars” between Europe and the United States “are here to stay” after Donald Trump’s victory across the Atlantic.
In program statements Converses from Cope Catalunya and AndorraMalet understands the “fear” that different economic sectors may feel because “Spanish exporters will see that in American supermarkets, their wines will suddenly be 10 or 20% more expensive”.
The spokesperson explained that these companies “they will lose competitiveness with wine that is made in California, but not with wine that is made in Chile, nor with wine that is made in Italy, nor with wine that is made in France, because this wine will also have 10 or 20%. % more cost.”
Investment Opportunities
Despite the trade conflict, Malet said the United States presents investment opportunities for the national productive fabric. “We have very competitive companies, but the Spanish company lacks dimension,” he explained. “To gain momentum, you have to invest in it, be persistent, do things well, that has a very big reward. If you manage to succeed in the United States, you become a global player,” he said. assured.
“We have wind, sun and space. No European country can compete with us in attracting sustainable industry because it does not have these three factors. In addition, Spain has ports in the Mediterranean, in the Atlantic and is far from Ukraine,” he said. .
Defense policy
On the other hand, Malet indicated that the victory of the Republican Party would imply a change in the defense policy of European countries. “The United States is an island that has Mexico at the bottom, Canada at the top and on both sides of the Atlantic and the Pacific. And always, since the days of Washington, there has been a very great desire to stay within its own borders,” he said. said.
“I think there will be a lot of pressure for Europeans to coordinate and be able to meet defense needs, which, given our situation in the world, are very important,” he reflected.
Regarding the polarization of American societyMalet emphasized that in a certain way it became “Spanish” or “Catalanized”, in reference to the social climate experienced during the period process. “I liked that in his speech Trump said that he would do everything possible to unify the country again. This is very necessary because the United States is very disunited, people don’t talk to each other, families are broken… but there “It is a fundamental feeling of patriotic spirit which allows us to think about reconciliation”, he hoped.
