Algeria Suspends Trade with Spain Amid Diplomatic Row over Western Sahara

Spain’s change of position on the Sahara has angered Algeria, which on June 8 suspended its treaty of friendship and cooperation with Spain. On the same day, the Association of Banks and Financial Institutions (ABEF) of Algeria also announced its decision to suspend trade flows to and from Spain. A decision denounced at the time by the European Union. "The EU is ready to oppose any type of coercive measures applied to a Member State," the EU officials declared on June 10.

"The alleged measure of stopping by the government current transactions with a European partner only exists in the minds of those who claim it and those who have hastened to stigmatize it," reacted the Algerian embassy in Brussels. However, the measure was maintained until Saturday, July 23, when the ABEF provided clarification on the application of its decision, stressing that the measure does not concern import or export operations of goods and services from Spain or of Spanish origin "domiciled" before June 9.