LISBON, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) — Bernardo Mendia, secretary-general of the Portugal-China Chamber of Commerce and Industry has criticized U.S. tariff policy, saying it marks another step in a worrying trend toward fragmentation of global trade.

These tariffs, which heavily penalize European exporters, including Portuguese businesses, are “particularly asymmetrical” as they were imposed unilaterally by Washington, Mendia has said in a recent interview with Xinhua.

For Portugal, the impact will be felt mainly along value chains where the country serves as an indirect supplier to European industrial sectors such as automobiles and machinery. Those sectors will now face higher costs when accessing the U.S. market, he said.

For Europe as a whole, the move delivers a blow to its strategic autonomy and undermines the credibility of a common trade policy, he noted.

According to final data released Friday by Portugal’s National Statistics Institute (INE), Portuguese exports to the United States plunged 39.4 percent year on year in June to 338 million euros (394 million U.S. dollars). The drop came amid market anticipation of tariffs announced by U.S. President Donald Trump.

On a quarterly basis, exports to the U.S. in the quarter ending June dropped 13.9 percent to 1.22 billion euros from 1.42 billion euros a year earlier.

Mendia said what is even more concerning is the geopolitical backdrop, in which the United States, rather than promoting multilateral cooperation, has chosen protectionist measures with extraterritorial effects, exerting pressure on both allies and competitors.

By contrast, he added, the Chinese market offers expanding opportunities for European companies in trade and investment, especially in areas such as the energy transition, technological innovation, and the digital economy. “The global trend should be toward building bridges and diversifying relationships, not erecting barriers that only fuel tensions,” he said.

Mendia stressed that the tariffs run counter to the global development priorities of balanced interdependence, economic sustainability, and inclusive growth driven by multiple centers. As a country committed to openness and multilateralism, Portugal will continue to defend a fairer and more predictable international trading system, he said.

In July, Portugal took part for the first time as a national delegation in the China International Supply Chain Expo, seeking to expand supply chain partnerships with China.

Heading the delegation, Mendia said he was pleased with the results, noting that amid unprecedented pressure on global supply chains, promoting cooperation, dialogue, the exchange of experience, and the removal of trade obstacles is vital.

The expo, he said, provides a constructive platform for deepening cooperation in business, economy, commerce, technology, and logistics, which ultimately benefits all participants, especially end consumers.

(1 euro = 1.16 U.S. dollars) Enditem

News sources: Xinhua and China.org.com