High-Stakes Diplomatic Mission: Sanchez Meets Xi Amid EU-China Trade Tensions

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping to address escalating trade tensions between the EU and China. The meeting aims to prevent a trade war that could severely impact Spanish industries, including pork and the automotive sector.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday. This meeting comes at a crucial time as the EU and China are on the brink of a trade war, with Beijing threatening to retaliate against Spanish automobile and pork sectors if Brussels imposes tariffs on its electric vehicles.

In June, China warned that frictions with the EU over its electric cars could lead to a trade war. This follows China's announcement of an anti-dumping investigation into European pork imports in August. These moves have brought the EU-Beijing dispute to the forefront in Spain, which exported $1.5 billion worth of pork products to China in 2023, far surpassing the combined exports of the Netherlands and Denmark.

Sanchez aims to maintain the political momentum of the bilateral relationship and strengthen economic ties. During his visit, he will seek assurances that China will not impose tariffs that could harm Spanish industries. His visit is being closely watched by the broader EU, which hopes Sanchez can alleviate the growing tensions.

(With inputs from agencies.)