Catalonia's response to Trump's tariffs: Boost exports and support companies

Catalan president Salvador Illa unveiled on Monday his plan to confront the United States' 15% tariffs on all European products.

Acknowledging what he called a “new reality” of instability caused by the tariff crisis, Illa emphasized the need to “push the economic engine to its maximum performance.”

The strategy aims to encourage around 2,000 Catalan companies to begin exporting.

Running from 2026 to 2030, the plan is “ambitious”, Illa said, a “structural, broad, long-term, and robust” proposal designed to make Catalan businesses less vulnerable to tariff fluctuations.

Illa also said he intends to consolidate Catalonia’s leading role in Spain’s exports, which currently account for 26% of the national total.

The strategy further foresees adding 300 new foreign subsidiaries, raising the total to 3,500.

In addition, the plan includes a line of grants of up to €90,000 per company to support market diversification, which are already available for application.