Business

The heatwaves and forest fires that swept through the Mediterranean this summer gave Europeans a grim lesson in the dangers of climate change. But many experts are just as worried about a longer-term affliction: desertification.

Spain’s King Felipe and Queen Letizia will visit Cuba in November for the commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the founding of Havana, Spain’s Foreign Minister Josep Borrell confirmed on Wednesday during a trip to Havana.

Spain has summoned the U.S. ambassador in Madrid to express its complete rejection of any new U.S. tariffs on European Union goods and will press for strong counter measures if they are confirmed, the acting government said on Friday. The World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled this week that some subsidies EU states paid to Airbus were illegal, giving the United States the right to respond with tariffs on EU goods.

China and Spain will on Wednesday sign an accord on the export of Iberian ham to China, a Spanish government source said on Tuesday, in a deal that will include coveted, on-the-bone legs of pork. The two countries have been negotiating a protocol on the export of pork products from Spain to China since 2016 and the agreement aims to include a wide range of pork products, according to the Spanish agriculture ministry.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will travel to Spain next Wednesday for an official visit expected to focus on trade and tourism. On Tuesday, trade ministers will meet representatives of major companies including Spanish banks Santander (SAN.MC) and BBVA (BBVA.MC), Commercial Bank of China, Spain’s Telefonica (TEF.MC), oil company Repsol (REP.MC) and Huawei Technologies [HWT.UL].