European Commission Vice President Teresa Ribera has rejected the suggestion that the United States could unilaterally suspend commercial relations with Spain, stressing that trade policy is conducted collectively by the European Union rather than by individual member states.
Her intervention followed remarks by US President Donald Trump, who threatened to halt trade with Madrid amid a dispute over the use of military facilities on Spanish territory. Speaking on Spain’s Cadena Ser radio, Ribera argued that Washington could not single out one EU country for economic retaliation.
“It is not possible to engage in [individual] commercial retaliation or business relationships,” Ribera stated. “The trade negotiations of each and every one of the 27 member states of the European Union are the responsibility of the Commission and it is not possible to divide or fragment them.”
She described attempts to isolate individual EU members as “profoundly disturbing, not only for societies, for peace, for cooperation, but also for the economy, and has immediate consequences in everyone’s economic activity as a whole”. At the same time, she expressed doubt that the White House would ultimately follow through, adding that the US “is not interested in breaking trade relations”.
Trump’s comments came during an Oval Office meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
“We’re going to cut off all trade with Spain,” Trump declared. “We don’t want anything to do with Spain.”
The president said he had instructed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to “cut off all dealings” with the country, while consulting US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer about the feasibility of an embargo.
“Well, sir, I think we’re going to talk about it with you,” Greer responded, adding that the Supreme Court had clarified presidential powers in this area.
Bessent concurred, stating, “The Supreme Court reaffirmed your ability to implement an embargo.”
The confrontation was triggered by Madrid’s decision to prevent American forces from using jointly operated bases at Morón de la Frontera and Rota in operations linked to US strikes on Iran. Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles said US troops stationed there must “operate within the framework of international law” and that the installations would not provide support beyond humanitarian needs.
A longstanding bilateral agreement grants Spain oversight of how American forces on its soil are deployed. Robles noted that several US aircraft had relocated to Germany’s Ramstein Air Base, suggesting the move was made because they could not operate from Spanish territory.
Spain’s government defended its position, describing the country as a reliable NATO ally and major exporting power within the EU. In a statement, Madrid emphasised that any review of trade ties must respect “the autonomy of private companies, international law, and bilateral agreements between the European Union and the United States”.
Trump, however, reiterated his criticism of Spain’s defence spending and claimed the US could use Spanish bases regardless of Madrid’s objections.
“We can use their bases if we want, we can just fly in and use them,” Trump said. “No one’s going to tell us not to use them.”
While the Supreme Court recently curtailed his reliance on a 1977 emergency statute to impose tariffs, the administration maintains that alternative legal tools remain available. For Brussels, however, the central message remains that trade relations with Spain are inseparable from those of the European Union as a whole.
