U.S. President-elect Donald Trump stated in December 2024 that the European Union should increase its imports of U.S. oil and gas or face tariffs on its exports, which include goods such as cars and machinery. Throughout his election campaign, Trump threatened to impose tariffs ranging from 10 to 20 percent on all products from the U.S.'s trading partners, including the EU.

CGTN Stringer took to the streets of Madrid to ask locals about their views on his threats. "It's a mistake in a globalized world where goods and trade have a general flow," said resident Pablo Martinez, who believes that a protectionist approach will not yield positive results.