Spain’s PM Pedro Sanchez turns to China as Trump’s tariffs hit EU

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has embarked on a diplomatic trip to Asia, visiting Vietnam as US tariffs on European Union products come into effect. Sánchez lands in Hanoi on Wednesday, where he will meet Vietnam’s top leader, To Lam. On Thursday, Sánchez is set to visit Ho Chi Minh City, where he will meet with business leaders to strengthen commercial ties and discuss potential investment opportunities between Spain and Vietnam. The Spanish leader will then head to China on Friday, marking his third visit in just over two years. There, he is expected to meet President Xi Jinping and several Chinese investors. US president Trump on Tuesday imposed an additional 50% tariff on Chinese goods after Beijing refused to remove retaliatory measures. These steps have pushed the cumulative US tariffs on Chinese imports to 104%. Sánchez has previously taken a softer stance on China compared to other EU leaders. During a visit to Beijing in September 2024, he urged the EU to reconsider plans to impose steep tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, advocating instead for fair and balanced trade rules. The European Union in response said the tariffs were needed to protect local manufacturers from unfair competition by Chinese companies that receive state support.Brussels, however, has recently indicated a desire to improve relations with Beijing. After Donald Trump returned to the White House in January, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for “constructive engagement with China.” The EU’s trade commissioner, Maros Sefcovic, also visited China to push for a more balanced and cooperative trade partnership.Pedro Sánchez is now the first EU leader to visit the region since Donald Trump's re-election. His trip signals the beginning of what could be a broader diplomatic push from Europe, as they look to Asia for alternative partnerships and trade opportunities.