Trump renews threat to cut off trade with Spain, calling country a ‘terrible partner’

(AP) - Lashing out at Spain and calling it a “terrible partner,” President Donald Trump on Wednesday revived an earlier threat to break off trade.

“Spain is a wasted cause,” Trump said on the sidelines of the NATO summit. “We don’t want to do any trade business with Spain anymore, by the way. I’d like to cut it off.”

He went on: “I don’t want anything to do with Spain. Cut off all trade with Spain, including visits.”

Trump made a similar threat in March, citing Spain’s lack of support for his war in Iran and resistance to increasing NATO spending.

In response to Trump’s comments, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s office said that Spain “maintains an excellent social, cultural, and economic relationship with the US, and we have no intention of seeing that change.”

The spokesperson said the Spanish government regarded such statements “as a matter of routine.”

The spokesperson referenced the U.S.’ trade surplus with Spain, and the fact that the European Union handles trade for the bloc’s 27 member countries.