Latest news with #Planas
Agriland
08-05-2025
- Business
- Agriland
‘No sustainability without profitability'
The Spanish Minister for Agriculture, Luis Planas has told the EU Commission that 'there is no sustainability without profitability for farmers'. Speaking at the commission's conference on the Vision for Agriculture and Food in Brussels this morning (May 8), the Spaniard explained, to heavy applause, how important profitability is for farmers. He said: 'I think that the vision has two basic meanings. The first is the fact that it provides a holistic view, on the challenges for the next future. 'The second one is that it has a dynamic view, looking to the future and looking at the challenges. 'I want just to add something, my first comment is very simple: We need profitability.' The minister praised the EU Commissioner for Agriculture, Christophe Hansen, on the vision, and said that it is 'easier' and more business-orientated. 'I have to say too, that we have to keep our ambition from the overall point of view, that one or the other are not in contradiction,' Planas said. 'We can have a profitable farms, and we have to have sustainable farms for the future,' he added. Profitability According to Minister Planas, farming has 'no future' without generational renewal in the sector. Prior to the Spanish agriculture minister's address, Commissioner Hansen had told the conference that the EU has lost more than 3 million farms, and that there are 9 million farms remaining. Minister Planas told the conference that the challenge of generational renewal is directly linked to the challenge of innovation. The minister said: 'We need to review, that the future is linked with innovation. New things, for example artificial intelligence, it's here in the farming sector and we are one of the pioneers in artificial intelligence, perhaps even sometimes we don't know it. 'I think that it is good that this link between conservation, and generational renewal, and innovation is there. 'The vision is not perfect, but the vision has also some good points,' the Spanish agriculture minister added.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Spain's PM visits China to boost ties with Trump's top tariff target
Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is visiting China on Friday, his third trip to the country in two years, as his government seeks to boost investment from the Asian giant amid global economic uncertainty caused by a chaotic US tariff policy. Mr Sanchez met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and was expected to meet as well as business leaders from several Chinese companies, many of which produce electric batteries or renewable energy technologies. The visit comes at a complex moment for Europe and China. The tariffs announced last week — and then paused — by US president Donald Trump could mean that the European Union pursues more trade with China, the world's third-largest consumer market after the United States and the EU. There is also growing concern in the EU about China flooding the bloc with discounted goods as a result of US tariffs, which would hurt European producers. Mr Sanchez's government has said that EU-member Spain wants to expand its economic ties with China. 'A trade war favors no one. We all will lose,' Mr Sanchez said after meeting with Vietnamese leaders in Hanoi on Thursday, where he signed commercial agreements ahead of his visit to Beijing. Spain's government spokeswoman Pilar Alegria said earlier this week that Mr Sanchez's trip 'has special importance' and is an opportunity to 'diversify markets' — Spain could see as much as 80% of its exports to the US impacted by Mr Trump's tariffs. US treasury secretary Scott Bessent called out Spain for its move toward China, saying on Tuesday that Spain—or any country that tries to get closer to China—would be 'cutting their own throat' because Chinese manufacturers will be looking to dump goods that they cannot sell in the US. 'Expanding the trade relations that we have with other countries, including a partner as important as China, does not go against anyone,' Spain's agriculture minister, Luis Planas, who accompanied Mr Sanchez, said in Vietnam on Wednesday. 'Everyone has to defend their own interests,' Mr Planas said. Spain — the eurozone's fourth-largest economy and a leader in growth — has in recent years been less adversarial toward China than other EU countries. After initially supporting EU tariffs placed last year on Chinese-made electric vehicles, which European leaders have said enjoy unfair advantages compared to European car makers, Spain abstained from voting on the customs duty. Mr Planas insisted that Spain's approach to China 'contributes to the collective effort made by certain countries in the European Union to get out of this situation'. 'Spain's position has changed to be more pro-China … than the average European country,' said Alicia García-Herrero, an economist for Asia Pacific at the French investment bank Natixis and an expert on Europe's relations with China.
The Hill
11-04-2025
- Business
- The Hill
Spain's prime minister visits China to strengthen ties with Trump's top tariff target
MADRID (AP) — Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is visiting China on Friday, his third trip to the country in two years as his government seeks to boost investment from the Asian giant amid global economic uncertainty caused by a chaotic U.S. tariff policy. Sánchez met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and was expected to meet as well as business leaders from several Chinese companies, many of which produce electric batteries or renewable energy technologies. The visit comes at a complex moment for Europe and China. The tariffs announced last week — and then paused — by U.S. President Donald Trump could mean that the European Union pursues more trade with China — the world's third-largest consumer market after the United States and the EU. There is also growing concern in the EU about China flooding the bloc with discounted goods as a result of U.S. tariffs, which would hurt European producers. Sánchez's government has said that EU-member Spain wants to expand its economic ties with China. 'A trade war favors no one. We all will lose,' Sánchez said after meeting with Vietnamese leaders in Hanoi on Thursday, where he signed commercial agreements ahead of his visit to Beijing. Spain's government spokeswoman Pilar Alegría said earlier this week that Sánchez's trip 'has special importance' and is an opportunity to 'diversify markets' — Spain could see as much as 80% of its exports to the U.S. impacted by Trump's tariffs. Warnings from Washington U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called out Spain for its move toward China, saying on Tuesday that Spain — or any country that tries to get closer to China — would be 'cutting their own throat' because Chinese manufacturers will be looking to dump goods that they can't sell in the U.S. 'Expanding the trade relations that we have with other countries, including a partner as important as China, does not go against anyone,' Spain's Agriculture Minister Luis Planas, who is accompany Sánchez, said in Vietnam on Wednesday. 'Everyone has to defend their own interests,' Planas said. Spain leans pro-China as EU is divided Spain — the eurozone's fourth-largest economy and a leader in growth — has in recent years been less adversarial toward China than other EU countries. After initially supporting EU tariffs placed last year on Chinese-made electric vehicles, which European leaders have said enjoy unfair advantages compared to European car makers, Spain abstained from voting on the customs duty. Planas insisted that Spain's approach to China 'contributes to the collective effort made by certain countries in the European Union to get out of this situation.' 'Spain's position has changed to be more pro-China … than the the average European country,' said Alicia García-Herrero, an economist for Asia Pacific at the French investment bank Natixis and an expert on Europe's relations with China. Clean energy and pork products Spain is a major supplier of pork to China, providing about 20% of China's imports, according to Interporc, a Spanish association of pork producers. 'For us, China is the main market,' said Daniel de Miguel, deputy director of Interporc. The Southern European country, which generated 56% of its electricity last year from renewable sources, needs Chinese critical raw materials, solar panels and green technologies — similar to other European countries transitioning away from fossil fuels. In December, Chinese electric battery company CATL announced a 4.1 billion euro ($4.5 billion) joint venture with automaker Stellantis to build a battery factory in northern Spain. That followed deals signed last year between Spain and Chinese companies Envision and Hygreen Energy to build green hydrogen infrastructure in the country. The Spanish leader's visit was announced before the Trump administration unveiled its tariff plan. Spain, as a EU nation, had initially received a 20% blanket tariff that Trump has now lowered to 10% for most countries other than China for 90 days. The bloc also faces a U.S. duty of 25% for cars, steel and aluminum. China, meanwhile, is facing a crippling, total 145% duty. When Trump announced Wednesday that China faced 125% tariffs, he did not include a 20% tariff on China tied to its role in fentanyl production. Sánchez, who has made more trips to China than the leaders of Germany or Italy, last visited in September, when he met with Xi amid EU-China trade tensions. While China's investments in Spain have grown, the Iberian nation trades less with China than Germany or Italy. García-Herrero, the economist at French bank Natixis, stressed the political value of the trip for Sánchez at a time when his leftist minority coalition lacks the support needed to get much passed at home and while Europe may be looking to thaw its strained relations with China. For Spain, the key thing is 'to get a leadership position in Europe at a time when the transatlantic alliance is not only at risk but in shambles,' she said.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Spain's prime minister visits China to strengthen ties with Trump's top tariff target
MADRID (AP) — Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is visiting China on Friday, his third trip to the country in two years as his government seeks to boost investment from the Asian giant amid global economic uncertainty caused by a chaotic U.S. tariff policy. Sánchez met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and was expected to meet as well as business leaders from several Chinese companies, many of which produce electric batteries or renewable energy technologies. The visit comes at a complex moment for Europe and China. The tariffs announced last week — and then paused — by U.S. President Donald Trump could mean that the European Union pursues more trade with China — the world's third-largest consumer market after the United States and the EU. There is also growing concern in the EU about China flooding the bloc with discounted goods as a result of U.S. tariffs, which would hurt European producers. Sánchez's government has said that EU-member Spain wants to expand its economic ties with China. 'A trade war favors no one. We all will lose,' Sánchez said after meeting with Vietnamese leaders in Hanoi on Thursday, where he signed commercial agreements ahead of his visit to Beijing. Spain's government spokeswoman Pilar Alegría said earlier this week that Sánchez's trip 'has special importance" and is an opportunity to "diversify markets' — Spain could see as much as 80% of its exports to the U.S. impacted by Trump's tariffs. Warnings from Washington U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called out Spain for its move toward China, saying on Tuesday that Spain — or any country that tries to get closer to China — would be 'cutting their own throat' because Chinese manufacturers will be looking to dump goods that they can't sell in the U.S. 'Expanding the trade relations that we have with other countries, including a partner as important as China, does not go against anyone,' Spain's Agriculture Minister Luis Planas, who is accompany Sánchez, said in Vietnam on Wednesday. 'Everyone has to defend their own interests," Planas said. Spain leans pro-China as EU is divided Spain — the eurozone's fourth-largest economy and a leader in growth — has in recent years been less adversarial toward China than other EU countries. After initially supporting EU tariffs placed last year on Chinese-made electric vehicles, which European leaders have said enjoy unfair advantages compared to European car makers, Spain abstained from voting on the customs duty. Planas insisted that Spain's approach to China 'contributes to the collective effort made by certain countries in the European Union to get out of this situation.' "Spain's position has changed to be more pro-China ... than the the average European country," said Alicia García-Herrero, an economist for Asia Pacific at the French investment bank Natixis and an expert on Europe's relations with China. Clean energy and pork products Spain is a major supplier of pork to China, providing about 20% of China's imports, according to Interporc, a Spanish association of pork producers. 'For us, China is the main market,' said Daniel de Miguel, deputy director of Interporc. The Southern European country, which generated 56% of its electricity last year from renewable sources, needs Chinese critical raw materials, solar panels and green technologies — similar to other European countries transitioning away from fossil fuels. In December, Chinese electric battery company CATL announced a 4.1 billion euro ($4.5 billion) joint venture with automaker Stellantis to build a battery factory in northern Spain. That followed deals signed last year between Spain and Chinese companies Envision and Hygreen Energy to build green hydrogen infrastructure in the country. The Spanish leader's visit was announced before the Trump administration unveiled its tariff plan. Spain, as a EU nation, had initially received a 20% blanket tariff that Trump has now lowered to 10% for most countries other than China for 90 days. The bloc also faces a U.S. duty of 25% for cars, steel and aluminum. China, meanwhile, is facing a crippling, total 145% duty. When Trump announced Wednesday that China faced 125% tariffs, he did not include a 20% tariff on China tied to its role in fentanyl production. Sánchez, who has made more trips to China than the leaders of Germany or Italy, last visited in September, when he met with Xi amid EU-China trade tensions. While China's investments in Spain have grown, the Iberian nation trades less with China than Germany or Italy. García-Herrero, the economist at French bank Natixis, stressed the political value of the trip for Sánchez at a time when his leftist minority coalition lacks the support needed to get much passed at home and while Europe may be looking to thaw its strained relations with China. For Spain, the key thing is "to get a leadership position in Europe at a time when the transatlantic alliance is not only at risk but in shambles,' she said. ___ Associated Press writer Joseph Wilson in Barcelona, Spain, contributed to this report.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Spain defends closer trade ties with China after US warns against 'cutting own throat'
MADRID (Reuters) - Spain will pursue closer trade ties with China in the interests of its citizens and of the EU, its agriculture minister Luis Planas said on Wednesday, rejecting a U.S. warning that moving closer to the Asian country would be "cutting your own throat". "We have excellent trade relations with China which we intend to not only continue having, but expanding," Planas told reporters from Ho Chi Minh City, where he was accompanying Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on a trip to Vietnam and, on Friday, China. Planas had been asked about earlier comments by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who criticised Spanish Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo's suggestion that Europe should more closely align with China. "That would be cutting your own throat," Bessent told a banking event in Washington, adding that China would continue to produce too many goods and dump them on markets elsewhere. Sanchez and Planas are heading to Beijing later this week to forge closer economic ties amid the global fallout of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff policy, seeking to position Spain as an interlocutor between China and the EU and attract Chinese investment. Trump's punishing tariffs, which the president says are aimed at ending U.S. trade deficits with many countries, have upended the global trading order, raising fears of recession and wiping trillions of dollars off the market value of major firms. Planas said that the way the U.S. was negotiating with trading partners did not appear "respectful". He added that Spain defended its interests within the framework of the European Union, which sought dialogue with the U.S. to resolve differences. "We have trading partners all over the world. We believe in the existence of a rules-based multilateral trade," Planas said. The minister added that strengthening ties with Vietnam and China did not contradict the EU's trade principles.
