USA warn Spain: Approaching China would be like digging its own grave

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent sharply criticized Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez for suggesting an approach to China in response to the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. Speaking at a banking summit in the USA, Bessent said that with such an attitude, Spain would be 'digging its own grave.' The remark came after Sánchez defended the need for a more balanced relationship between Europe and China. Bessent strongly criticized the Chinese economic model and accused China of flooding the market with cheap products. The official also defended the higher tariffs imposed by Trump, which include a 104% increase on Chinese products. Spain, in turn, has defended its right to seek new economic alliances. 'In Spain, we have always advocated for a world of open doors, a world where trade unites our peoples and makes them wealthier,' said Pedro Sánchez, President of Spain. Pedro Sánchez, who has just met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, will fly to Beijing on Friday, May 11, to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.