Half-year diplomatic and trade crisis with Algeria: “Everything remained the same”

Since the crisis began, Spanish ceramic glaze industry According to sources in the sector, it lost about 70 million euros in turnover. First of all, for these factories CastellonAlgeria became its second market after Italy. They explain that customs are blocking their shipments, and they fear that if Algerian customers seek alternative suppliers, it will be difficult to recover the market if the crisis is resolved at some point.

“This adds to the problem in terms of costs. energeticManuel Breva, Secretary General of ANFFECC, which brings together the Spanish frit, glaze and ceramic paint manufacturers, explains that they want the Spanish authorities to find a solution. urgent solution but nothing has changed for now.

“Algeria was a country where we had great presence and growth prospects,” explains Fernando Garai, managing director of Vitrinor, a Cantabrian kitchenware company. six months later trade blockadeThey almost give up on this market. Garai explains that they are looking for alternatives to continue working in Algeria, but that is impossible. The businessman complains, “We manufacture the product in Spain, and even if it is exported by a company from another country, Algerian customs require a certificate of origin. If the product is Spanish, it almost certainly does not enter the country.” .

diplomatic crisis

According to that Ministry of Foreign AffairsAlthough Spain has declared that it has not received any response for the moment, it continues to extend its hand to Algeria. Algeria became a country after the Spanish Government’s rapprochement with Morocco and especially the President of the Government Pedro Sánchez’s monarch VI. Mohammad, Morocco’s offer of autonomy for Western Sahara should be put on a “more serious, credible and realistic basis for the resolution of the conflict.” This letter, which was sent in April, closed the crisis with Morocco and opened another crisis with Algeria. Two North African countries maintains a historical dispute and has currently broken diplomatic relations.

The Algerian authorities decided to suspend the Treaty of Friendship, Good Neighborhood and Cooperation with Spain six months ago and was described as follows: “unfair” Change of Spanish position. Algeria also decided to freeze. Direct debts for the purpose of suspending the business activities of Spanish companies in your country. Even the European Union objected to a confusing decision. Algeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied that economic retaliation had taken place, although in practice Spanish companies were still unable to operate normally.

“Is there a recession “It’s between Madrid and Algeria,” explains Laurence Thieux, professor of International Relations at the Complutense University of Madrid. Additionally, “Spain continues to be inept on Algeria, did not make strong symbolic gestures and did not seek any rapprochement. Important moments such as the celebration of Algeria’s independence”.

future of gas

In the context of the current conflict, Thieux explains: UkraineAlgeria is seen as a valuable country and many governments have tried to approach Algeria for their own benefit. gas potential. This has caused the Algerian authorities to no longer consider Spain among the priority countries because they have many other alternatives, says the expert. Italy, for example, has established itself as Algeria’s main European trading partner. Last year, the Algerian public company, sonata, signed up to five contracts with various Italian companies. They even started the joint operation of two gas wells.

One of the biggest fears during the crisis is that Algeria will turn off the tap. gasIt didn’t happen after all. Worry is now possible price rise In the future, this hydrocarbon improvisationIt is currently negotiating gas prices for 2023 with Algeria, but it is unknown for now how the talks are progressing as the energy company describes it as a “secret issue”.