Portugal has to respond to tariffs in accordance with the EU, says Rangel

The Minister of Foreign Affairs said this Monday that Portugal should be aligned with the rest of the European Union (EU) to deal with the imposition of customs tariffs by the United States.

Speaking to journalists, Paulo Rangel, at the Palace of Justice, in Porto, said that Portugal, like the other governments, « can play an individual role in measures to try to mitigate the impacts of tariffs, but » has to be seen in concert with the European Union.  »

Regarding the measure announced by the Spain government of a 14.1 million euros package to support companies, Rangel said he understood « haste » due to the « internal political situation », but claimed that « that most of the supports already existed. »

Still on Spain, the minister added that the two governments are « in conversations » and that the « ministers of the economy have, in fact, a conversation of this matter. »

« We have time to address this subject and we will treat it carefully. This can be absolutely certain, » said Paulo Rangel, adding that the executive is « in consultations with the European Commission, which is the exclusive competence to negotiate the tariffs. »

« We have been working on this for weeks. That is, trying to protect in the response that the European Union will give, the Portuguese sectors that could be more impacted, » he said.