Government meets with social partners to discuss trade tensions and explain plans to protect industry, business and workers

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, has informed CEOE, Cepyme, CCOO and UGT of the Government's preparatory plans to respond to the tariffs proposed by the US administration.

Moncloa Palace, Madrid

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, and six of his ministers during their meeting with the presidents of CEOE and Cepyme, Antonio Garamendi and Gerardo Cuerva, and the general secretaries of CCOO and UGT, Unai Sordo and Pepe Álvarez (Pool Moncloa/Borja Puig de la Bellacasa)

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, has discussed with the social partners a National Contingency Plan the Executive is finalising, with measures at national, European and international level to protect Spanish industry and companies in the face of the imposition of tariffs by the US administration.

The meeting, held at Moncloa Palace, was attended by the presidents of the CEOE and Cepyme, Antonio Garamendi and Gerardo Cuerva, and the general secretaries of the CCOO and UGT, Unai Sordo and Pepe Álvarez. The meeting was also attended by the First Vice-President and Minister for Treasury, María Jesús Montero; the Second Vice-President and Minister for Work and Social Economy, Yolanda Díaz; the Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares; the Minister for Industry and Tourism, Jordi Hereu; the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas; and the Minister for Economy, Trade and Enterprise, Carlos Cuerpo.

Pedro Sánchez analysed the current geopolitical situation, marked by trade tensions with the US, with the highest representatives of employers and workers. In this regard, he said that the EU and the Government of Spain are prepared to protect Spanish industry and companies with the appropriate tools, in a fair and proportional manner, in the face of the announced tariffs.

The First Vice-President and Minister for Treasury, María Jesús Montero, and the President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, during the meeting with social partners| Pool Moncloa/Borja Puig de la Bellacasa

To this effect, the meeting discussed the Government's preparatory plans to respond to the unjustified tariffs proposed by the US administration. The Government of Spain is working closely with the EU on this response to protect in particular the sectors that may be affected.

In this context, on 1 April, the Council of Ministers approved the extension of the electric mobility incentive programme (MOVES III) until 31 December, retroactive from 1 January and endowed with €400 million to maintain support for the purchase of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, as demanded by the sector.

The President of the Government will also meet on 3 April at Moncloa Palace with representatives of the Spanish productive fabric, where they will analyse the situation. In recent weeks, the ministers for Economy, Trade and Business, Carlos Cuerpo, and Industry and Tourism, Jordi Hereu, have held meetings with the sectors affected by the US Administration's tariff announcements, including steel and aluminium, automobiles and components, and wine and alcoholic beverages, to convey their support for companies and workers.

The Government of Spain will work on a common response at European level to the imposition of tariffs, will maintain direct and continuous contact, and will support from the outset the industry, sectors and workers that may be affected at national level.

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