[Source/Observer Network Yao Yunxi] As the United States imposes so-called "reciprocal tariffs" on multiple countries causing global turmoil, Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez once again urged the European Union to change its stance toward China.

According to a report by Bloomberg on April 8, when Sanchez arrived in Vietnam for a three-day visit, he told reporters that what US President Trump did regarding global trade would inevitably push Europe to change its intentions and seek new partners and open up new markets.

He said that the situation caused by the United States means that everyone needs to adjust, including Europe changing its stance towards China and China adjusting its stance towards Europe.

Sanchez's data photo, Bloomberg

Reportedly, Sanchez will meet with Vietnamese President Dang Quang Minh and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on April 9, and attend a business event the next day. This is Sanchez's first visit to Vietnam.

"The message conveyed by the EU regarding tariff negotiations with the US is that member states will maintain unity, respond moderately yet swiftly," Sanchez added, saying that the EU needs to remain calm.

Previously, senior Spanish officials have called on the EU to avoid taking "excessive countermeasures" and continue seeking solutions through negotiations. On April 5, Carlos Cuerpo, Spanish Minister of Economy, Trade, and Enterprises, stated, "We still call for solving problems through negotiations. Increasing tariffs and strengthening protectionism is a 'lose-lose' competition; we just need to look at the market response over the past two days, and I believe this proves the correctness of this argument."

It is worth noting that after visiting Vietnam, Sanchez will visit China. This is his second visit to China within seven months. Last September 8-11, Sanchez paid an official visit to China.

It is reported that Sanchez plans to meet with Chinese investors on April 11.

Reuters said that Sanchez is trying to position Spain as a communication bridge between China and EU member states.

On April 7, Carlos Cuerpo said that China will become an important strategic partner for Spain and Europe, "I believe that the proposition advocated by the Spanish prime minister has been increasingly accepted and recognized by other EU member states."

Bloomberg said that Sanchez's efforts to attract Chinese investors and consolidate relations with China have already paid off. The Chinese new energy technology company CATL announced in December 2024 that it will cooperate with the multinational automotive group Stellantis to invest 4.1 billion euros (about 33.2 billion RMB) in building a factory in Spain.

Currently, there are still differences within the EU regarding the issue of EU trade policy with China. Unlike Spain's view that "the EU should ease its relationship with China," represented by Poland, member states call for the EU to prepare for possible "indirect consequences" of Trump's tariff policies: the impact of Chinese goods.

At the EU member state ministers' meeting on April 7, Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Michal Baranowski claimed that the statement "the EU will move closer to China" was not welcomed by the attending ministers. He claimed, "I think everyone present feels that our partnership and alliance with the United States indeed faces challenges, but this does not mean that the challenges and issues in our economic relations with China will disappear."

The French attitude is more awkward. French Trade Minister Laurent Saint-Martin said on the same day that the EU should "rebalance" its trade relations with China according to industries, economic security, and low-carbon agendas. However, he simultaneously brought up the so-called problem of industrial "overcapacity," claiming that the EU needs to adopt a "very active trade policy" toward China.

Previously, EU foreign affairs chief Karas had repeatedly claimed that the trade war between the US and the EU "would benefit China." At the G7 summit in late March, the G7 foreign ministers' statement criticized matters related to the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, and even failed to mention the "One China" principle.

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Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7491181044772504118/

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