Europe, curious who holds the key to the White House

The European Union (EU) has been preparing with a team within the European Commission (EC) for a year for the outcome of the elections in the United States – the most important trading partner and major guarantee of its security – and which will become more complex if Republican Donald Trump wins.

Brussels states that whoever wins, whether it is Trump or the current vice president and Democratic candidate, Kamala Harris, the relationship with Washington “it won’t change”because “the US and the EU are and will remain so partners and allies in the area,” said a Commission spokesperson.

“The US election results will not materially change this reality. Although, like all elections, they can have an impact on the political direction of the partners,” he said.

Brussels has been analyzing what the implications of one victory or another and how we should prepare for the policies of the next White House tenant.

Trump promised to impose tariffs (between 10 and 20%) on imported products, which in the EU would mainly impact the Germany, Italy and Irelandthe countries that exported the most to the US in 2023, according to the European statistics agency Eurostat.

The Commission and President Joe Biden’s administration agreed to suspend the measure dutybut the negotiations conducted so far have not ended the dispute.

The outcome of the polls will also influence the geopolitical dispute between the US and Chinaand will force the EU to consider how to position itself in that fight, just as it has stepped up its trade war with Beijing with tariffs on electric vehicle imports.

The decisions that Trump or Harris make about the war in Ukraine are the EU’s biggest concern in this regard securityespecially if the Republican wins, much more unpredictable and who even said he could end the conflict within 24 hours.

The Twenty-Seven are also aware of the White House’s position in the war Middle East or the Iranian nuclear program. The EU’s first response to the elections will come in Budapest, where leaders will meet Thursday and Friday at an informal summit convened by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

The Spanish parties

The main Spanish political parties are also watching with great interest the elections in the United States, with an exciting battle between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, and analyzing what consequences the victory of one or the other candidate could have for Spain.

Both represent radically opposite ideological positions and have different ways of approaching their relationship with Europe, and therefore with Spain, which could affect some aspects of bilateral relations, although in any case they are very solid.

From the ruling party, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs PSOESergio Gutiérrez is clear about this Harris “She is an ally, while Trump is a threat” in many ways, including commercially.

For its part, the PP maintains one most equidistant position by emphasizing that on November 5 he hopes that the chosen one will commit to “the historic transatlantic relationship they have had, committed to NATO and Europe” and that he will remain an ally and friend of Spain, “a defender of the free trade and human rights”.

Addthe Socialists’ partner in government, thinks that if the Democratic candidate wins there will be continuity in relations, which with Joe Biden have been “very positive”, while with the Republican there would “probably be friction”.

However, from a different perspective it is Vox They have no doubt that a victory for Kamala Harris, whom they call “the candidate of the PSOE and the PP”, would be dangerous for world security.