MADRID, Oct 8 (NNN-Xinhua) — Acting Spanish Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Luis Planas said that the U.S. tariffs of 25 percent on Spanish agricultural products are “unacceptable.”
Planas said this in a press conference here after a meeting with representatives of Spanish regions, or autonomous communities.
The minister estimated that the impact of the tariffs on Spain’s agriculture sector would be at around 750 million euros (822 million U.S. dollars).
Spanish Secretary of State for the European Union (EU) Luis Marco Aguiriano summoned U.S. Ambassador to Spain Duke Buchan to express the Spanish government’s “full rejection” of the increase in tariffs.
The Spanish government confirmed that it “energetically” rejected the tariff increase on a group of European products, saying it directly affects the Spanish agricultural sector.
The government also said that in the coming weeks, the United States would understand that an agreement is necessary “to avoid damaging the spirit of collaboration and understanding which characterize bilateral relations.”
If the United States rejects dialogue, Spain will react “immediately, with firmness and clarity” in defense of Spanish interests, activating all available legal means in collaboration with the European Commission and other EU countries, said a Spanish government communique.
The United States announced Wednesday that it would impose tariffs of 25 percent on European food products from Oct 18.
The U.S. move has its roots in a recent World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling in favor of the United States over its long-standing conflict with the EU over aircraft subsidies.
The Spanish government believes that it make no sense that a conflict over the construction of aircraft leads to a trade war affecting the agricultural sector.
“The agricultural sector should not be the target of the dispute, when the conflict is about the aeronautical sector,” said Planas.
