Algeria’s Suspension of Trade with Spain Could Violate EU Trade Law, Top EU Officials

High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell attends a news conference in Brussels, Belgium, February 28, 2022. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo

Algeria’s decision to block trade with Spain following a diplomatic row over Western Sahara could be a violation of European Union trade law, two senior EU officials said on Friday.

“The European Union is ready to stand up against any type of coercive measures applied against an EU Member State,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis said in a joint statement. “However, the EU continues to favor dialogue first to solve controversies.”