Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleU.S. officials are preparing a list of products for restrictions, with legal experts noting Trump might invoke the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), though its application to a NATO ally is debated (Getty Images)Donald Trump ordered officials to prepare a potential sweeping trade embargo against Spain, escalating a dispute over the country's defense spending. The directive instructed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to "cut off all trade ... including visits" and to identify Spanish products for potential blocking. U.S. officials are preparing a list of products for restrictions, with legal experts noting Trump might invoke the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), though its application to a NATO ally is debated. The economic fallout could be enormous. The United States and Spain traded $47.9 billion in goods last year, and an embargo could disrupt trade and more than $240 billion in cross-border investment.The dispute arises from Trump's repeated criticism of Spain for failing to meet his preferred 5% NATO defense spending target, despite Spain's plan to reach 2% of GDP by 2026. In fullCan Trump really cut off trade with Spain?More bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
What Trump’s Spain embargo threat could mean for trade, tourism and prices
Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleU.S. officials are preparing a list of products for restrictions, with legal experts noting Trump might invoke the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), though its application to a NATO ally is debated (Getty Images)Donald Trump ordered officials to prepare a potential sweeping trade embargo against Spain, escalating a dispute over the country's defense spending. The directive instructed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to "cut off all trade ... including visits" and to identify Spanish products for potential blocking. U.S. officials are preparing a list of products for restrictions, with legal experts noting Trump might invoke the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), though its application to a NATO ally is debated. The economic fallout could be enormous. The United States and Spain traded $47.9 billion in goods last year, and an embargo could disrupt trade and more than $240 billion in cross-border investment.The dispute arises from Trump's repeated criticism of Spain for failing to meet his preferred 5% NATO defense spending target, despite Spain's plan to reach 2% of GDP by 2026. In fullCan Trump really cut off trade with Spain?More bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
