More than forty Aragonese companies gathered at the Zaragoza Chamber of Commerce for the event «American Tariffs: Certainties in a Changing Scenario,» organized by AREX, Chamber Zaragoza, and Banco Sabadell, to discuss the impact of U.S. trade policies on their operations.
Context and Concerns
Aragonese exports to the U.S. experienced a growth of 25% in the first half of 2025, but political uncertainty has recently hampered this progress. Nieves Agreda from Chamber Zaragoza emphasized the importance of having reliable information given the lack of trade agreements between the EU and the U.S.
Analysis and Tools
International Outlook
Lucía Bonet from Cesce analyzed the global shift towards geopolitical rivalry, with China emerging as a dominant power, warning about the risks to global GDP and specific sectors in Spain.
Funding and Strategies
Martín Larroque from ICO introduced the Internationalization Fund (FIEM) as a support line, while Ana Ferra from Sodiar explained the participatory loans from the Government of Aragon, which can reach up to €50,000, aimed at market diversification.
Sector Impact
Eugenie van Ekeris from Bodem Bodegas shared how U.S. importers are absorbing the additional costs, avoiding passing them on to consumers, although uncertainty persists. On the other hand, Belén Pérez-Caballero from Ebroacero discussed the challenges of competing with steel producers from countries like China and India, and the need to diversify into sectors such as defense or nuclear industry.
The event concluded with remarks from Javier Camo of AREX, who emphasized the importance of the U.S. market, which is the 11th destination for Aragonese exports, and the need to explore other markets such as Europe and China, relying on local capabilities and institutional support.
