Trump, who has long criticized European allies for what he sees as “free-riding” on U.S. defense spending, recently threatened to impose “trade punishment” on Spain after Madrid declined to meet NATO’s ambitious 5% defense expenditure target — a figure that far exceeds the alliance’s long-standing 2% guideline. The former U.S. president framed the move as a warning to nations he views as failing to “pay their fair share.”
In response, the European Commission made clear that any unilateral U.S. action targeting Spain would be met with a coordinated EU response. “We will respond appropriately, as we always do, to any measures taken against one or more of our member states,” said Olof Gill, the Commission’s trade spokesperson.
Under EU law, all member states share a common commercial policy, meaning goods exported from Spain are treated no differently from those originating in France, Germany, or any other EU country. For Washington to impose higher tariffs specifically on Spanish-made products — beyond the current 15% rate — would not only violate trade norms but also challenge Brussels’ exclusive authority in such matters.
Analysts warn that Trump’s rhetoric risks reigniting transatlantic trade tensions just as the EU and U.S. are struggling to maintain a fragile economic partnership amid global uncertainty and competition from China. European officials, meanwhile, have emphasized that defense contributions cannot be measured solely in raw percentages — pointing to Spain’s active military missions, intelligence cooperation, and humanitarian roles within NATO.
Ultimately, the dispute highlights a broader question about Europe’s strategic autonomy: how far the EU is willing to go to defend its members economically and politically against U.S. pressure. For Brussels, the answer appears clear — any attack on one member’s economy will be treated as an attack on all.
