HomeCountries & Areas…Spain hide Spain Subscribe View Fact Sheet Embassies & Consulates Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs International Travel Information What you need to know before you go: visas, Embassy & Consulate locations, vaccinations, etc. International Travel Information: Learn More Current Travel Advisories Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution Learn More U.S. Relationship These are excerpts from the U.S. Relations With Spain U.S.-Spain Relations Bilateral Economic Relations U.S.-Spain Relations The United States established diplomatic relations with Spain in 1783. Spain and the United States are close allies and have excellent relations based on shared democratic values, including the promotion of democracy and human rights. Bilateral Economic Relations Spain’s accession to the European Union (EU) in 1986 required the country to open its economy to trade and investment, modernize its industrial base, improve infrastructure, and revise economic legislation to conform to EU guidelines. Spain is now the fifth-largest economy in the EU and the fourth-largest economy in the Eurozone. Spain and the United States have a friendship, navigation, and commerce treaty as well Spain’s accession to the European Union (EU) in 1986 required the country to open its economy to trade and investment, modernize its industrial base, improve infrastructure, and revise economic legislation to conform to EU guidelines. Spain is now the fifth-largest economy in the EU and the fourth-largest economy in the Eurozone. Spain and the United States have a friendship, navigation, and commerce treaty as well as a bilateral taxation treaty, the implementation of which may stem the practice of many U.S. companies channeling their Spanish investments and operations through third countries. Collapse Bilateral Economic Relations Read more about Bilateral Economic Relations Integrated Country Strategies The Integrated Country Strategy is the four-year strategy articulating U.S. priorities in a given country. The Chief of Mission leads the strategy. View Integrated Country Strategies Investment Climate Statements The Investment Climate Statements analyze a variety of economies that are or could be markets for U.S. businesses and provide information on the business climates. View Investment Climate Statements Discover More 2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2022 Report on International Religious Freedom 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report View all Department Reports and Publications Highlights April 8, 2024 Senior Coordinator for Atlantic Cooperation Lapenn’s Travel to Spain and UN Ocean Decade Conference April 5, 2024 Deputy Secretary Campbell’s Call with Spanish State Secretary for Foreign and Global Affairs Martínez Belío April 2, 2024 Joint Statement on the U.S.-Spain Central America Working Group February 23, 2024 Madrid, Spain: American School of Madrid: 2024 Special Needs Profile February 23, 2024 Barcelona, Spain: Benjamin Franklin International School: 2024 Special Needs Profile VIEW ALL NEWS Tags Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Spain