Overview
- Sánchez, who spoke at Tsinghua University on Monday, called China’s trade surplus with the EU “untenable” and warned it fuels isolationist sentiment in Europe.
- Madrid set goals for the trip that include wider access for Spanish farm and industrial goods, plus talks on joint technology contracts and key raw materials.
- Spain logged a €42.3 billion trade deficit with China in 2025, which Sánchez said equals 74% of the country’s total trade gap.
- The agenda includes meetings Tuesday with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang to press market access and investment issues.
- The trip follows a clash with Washington after Spain denied U.S. use of its bases for strikes on Iran, and Madrid now casts Spain as a bridge between Beijing and the EU.