The Federal Maritime Commission of the United States (FMC, for its acronym in English) has determined, after an investigation, that the Government of Spain has applied restrictive port practices against vessels with the American flag. In response, it has proposed to the Trump Administration the imposition of a fee of $200,000 (€180,000) per crossing to Spanish-flagged ships, in addition to setting limits on the entry of goods from Spain.
According to the FMC, these possible import restrictions could affect sectors such as perfumery and cosmetics, oils and fats, ceramics, as well as stone products, sugar, and confectionery.
The U.S. regulatory agency, responsible for overseeing maritime transport and trade, opened an investigation in December 2024 to clarify whether Spain was creating an unfavorable environment for maritime traffic by preventing certain vessels from entering its ports, with the consequent negative impact on U.S. foreign trade.
The FMC's conclusions indicate that Madrid "denied" access to its ports to ships with the American flag, a decision that has "serious" repercussions on the efficiency and reliability of the international maritime transport supply chain.
As a result, the Spanish Executive would have limited the FMC's ability to promote the growth and expansion of U.S. exports, support the development of a fleet of regular American-flagged vessels that meet national security and commercial needs, and back the country's merchant marine.
From now on, the agency will open a public consultation period to gather opinions and define an appropriate response, while also giving Spain the opportunity to present its claims.