The tariff crisis affecting strategic sectors of the Spanish productive fabric has once again highlighted the shortcomings of Pedro Sánchez's government in managing a situation of international impact.This was conveyed by the Deputy Secretary of Economy of the Popular Party, Juan Bravo, in statements to the media in Seville on Thursday, where he expressed his party's willingness to address this crisis as a matter of state, but not without conditions.
Bravo praised the recent meeting with the Minister of Economy, Carlos Cuerpo, which was also attended by the Secretary of State and the Director General of the branch, and which lasted almost two hours. During this meeting, he explained, ideas and information were exchanged regarding the current tariff crisis.
"I want to thank the Minister of the Corps, the Secretary of State, and the Director General for the nearly two-hour meeting, during which we were able to exchange many ideas, a lot of information, and, above all, the complicated situation we are currently in.", Bravo said.
However, he also showed his surprise at the absence of the Vice President and Minister of Finance, María Jesús Montero, as it is a matter of a tax and financial nature, evidencing a lack of direct involvement from the area responsible for the Government's fiscal policy.
When we talk about tariffs, we're talking about economic policy, and to talk about economic policy, you need to have budgets. pic.twitter.com/DCelqzCZSt
— Popular Party (@ppopular) April 4, 2025
An “embryonic” plan with little specificity
Bravo has warned that The plan announced by the Government in response to the tariff crisis is still in an "embryonic" phase. and that there is still “a lot of work ahead and many unanswered questions.” In this sense, has questioned the Executive's ability to offer an effective and structured response, demanding that progress be made with transparency and institutional participation.
He also recalled that Of the 14.100 billion euros announced by President Sánchez, only 400 million correspond to direct non-repayable aid previously planned in the MOVES plan., while the rest of the economic package is made up of loans, guarantees and lines of credit.
Bravo has insisted that what is important is not the volume of figures announced, but the capacity to actually execute the promised resources., and has cited as a negative example the management of European funds and aid to alleviate the effects of the DANA, which still have not reached the affected territories.
Request for a Sectoral Conference with Autonomous Communities
The Popular Party, through Bravo, has formally requested the Government to call a Sectoral Conference with the presidents of the autonomous communities and the competent councilors to share existing information and establish a joint work system in the face of a tariff crisis that directly impacts sectors such as agriculture, industry, and exports.
"I ask the Government to call the presidents of the Autonomous Communities and convene a sectoral conference with councilors to share existing information and establish joint working systems.".
With this demand, the PP shows the lack of involvement of the central executive with the regional administrations, which are those that directly manage the productive sectors and which should be fully integrated into the design of the institutional response.
Support for the European Union and rejection of commercial populism
Bravo has defended that The response to the tariff crisis must be aligned with the European Union, Noting that The Commission is “our tool of strength in the negotiations” and stressing that the Popular Party does not share either the insults to the Trump Administration or the following of any international position.
"We must give our full support to the commissioners and the president of the Commission, accepting that we have a lot at stake, that we have a series of responsibilities, and that this could be a huge internal opportunity.", he added, referring to the opportunities this situation could generate for advancing agreements such as the Draghi plan or the free trade agreement with Mercosur.
The popular leader insisted on the importance of defending the Free trade as a path to growth, employment and economic activity, and recalled that tariff wars do not generate long-term benefits.
Listen to the productive fabric and open markets
The PP believes it is essential that the government listen to the sectors directly affected by the tariff crisis. Bravo explicitly mentioned businessmen, industrialists, farmers and ranchers, calling for the opening of more funds and markets as a structural measure.
With this position, the Popular Party criticizes The lack of a concrete response from the Government and the delay in formulating effective policies to protect the competitiveness of the Spanish economy facing a global trade threat.
A tariff crisis that demands unity, not propaganda
The repetition of unexecuted plans, the scarce regional participation, the lack of clarity in the strategy of Pedro Sánchez's Government and the absence of effective leadership from key areas such as the Treasury have led the Popular Party to redouble its demand for serious, coordinated and transparent action in the face of the tariff crisis.
The main opposition party insists that The management of this situation must be done through consensus, efficiency and institutional responsibility, not through empty announcements or improvisation..
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