Madrid/The Hague, June 26 -- Spain will not hold separate talks with the United States on trade issues, Spanish Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo said amid threats from US President Donald Trump over Madrid's reluctance to participate in NATO's collective commitments to increase military spending.
"Trade relations between the United States and the European Union are conducted through US negotiations with the European Commission. We are part of a customs union of 27 countries," Cuerpo told the EFE news agency on Wednesday.
Cuerpo noted that Madrid does not consider bilateral agreements that bypass the pan-European position.
On June 19, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte that Madrid would not ...