SPAIN is among more than 80 countries affected by a new wave of tariffs announced by Donald Trump’s administration as the US expands its latest global trade war.
The measures, unveiled on Thursday, impose new import duties on countries that Washington says have not done enough to stop goods made with forced labour from entering their supply chains.
Analysts say the tariffs are an alternative way for the Trump administration to pressure trading partners after the US Supreme Court struck down most of the president’s sweeping tariffs earlier this year.
READ MORE: Trump orders US Treasury to cease all trade with Spain after calling Madrid a ‘terrible partner’
As part of the European Union, Spain will face tariffs of 10% on exports to the United States.
Countries that have committed to enforcing bans on imports made with forced labour, including the EU, Canada, India and Mexico, will be subject to this rate.
Meanwhile, countries such as Australia, Brazil and Japan, which the US says have failed to adopt similar bans, will face a higher tariff of 12.5%.
Several countries have criticised the latest tariff policy and rejected US claims that they have failed to do enough to prevent forced labour.
Spain is expected to be less exposed than many other EU economies, as the United States is not one of its biggest export markets. Only around 5% of Spanish exports are destined for the US.
Even so, some sectors are likely to feel the impact. The manufacturing industry is expected to be the hardest hit, particularly pharmaceutical companies and the metallurgical sector, which depend more heavily on exports to the US.
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