Message from the Ambassador

Ambassador Solomont (photo: US Embassy)

I would like to welcome U.S. and Spanish businesses here to learn more about trade and investment opportunities in both countries.  For both Spain and the United States, it is critical to encourage and support new trade and investment.  When our companies export and invest, they create jobs, generate tax revenue, and have a multiplier effect in the local economy.  This is why is it important for companies to export and look to invest in foreign markets, and for countries to welcome international investors.  The United States Embassy in Madrid is benefiting both the U.S. and Spanish economies by helping American companies export to Spain, helping Spanish companies invest in the United States and encouraging policies that will protect and attract U.S. investment, an essential part of a strong and healthy Spanish economy that generates sustained growth and creates jobs.

We call this important facet of our diplomatic mission’s work in Spain “economic statecraft.”  In a speech last October to the Economic Club of New York, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton described economic statecraft as how we "harness the forces and use the tools of global economics to strengthen our diplomacy and ... how we use diplomacy to strengthen our economy at home."  The Secretary has placed economic statecraft at the heart of our foreign policy.

I lead a team of professionals from the Economic Section, the U.S. Commercial Service, the Foreign Agricultural Service and other Embassy offices, including the Consular Section and Public Affairs, in implementing our economic statecraft agenda.

At the U.S. Embassy in Madrid, we practice economic statecraft in four ways.  We work closely with Spanish authorities to ensure that U.S. companies in Spain can compete on a level playing field, market their products and grow their businesses here.  We collaborate with partners in the Spanish government, and with business organizations, to improve the broader investment climate in Spain.  We promote trade between our countries in order to boost U.S. exports to Spain, in accordance with President Obama's National Export Initiative.  We support economic recovery in both the United States and Spain by promoting foreign direct investment by Spanish companies in the United States.

The United States and Spain share a common historical and cultural heritage reaching back nearly 500 years to the Spanish exploration of the New World.  Today, we draw on that shared history to help us explore new opportunities together.  Our economic cooperation continues to build on those deep ties as we face the challenges and opportunities that arise.  It is on the foundation of our strong partnership that we will build the future.

Ambassador Alan D. Solomont

US Commercial Service

The U.S. Commercial Service Spain at the U.S. Embassy in Madrid provides a range of services to help American companies export goods and services to Spain.  The U.S. Commercial Service is the trade promotion unit of the International Trade Administration of the United States Department of Commerce. U.S. Commercial Service trade specialists in 107 U.S. cities and in more than 80 countries work with your company to help US companies get started in exporting or increasing their sales in new global markets.  For more information go to www.export.gov/spain.

Foreign Agricultural Service

The Office of Agricultural Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Madrid represents U.S. agricultural interests in Spain and Portugal on behalf of the Foreign Agricultural Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  Our primary objective is to assist U.S. agricultural, fisheries, and forestry product exporters interested in exporting to Spain and Portugal.  We analyze market access conditions, supply and demand trends, and potential market opportunities for U.S. exporters.  We assist Spanish and Portuguese importers in their efforts to locate reliable U.S. agricultural products exporters.  We also work to resolve border issues and collaborate with host government officials to improve market access for U.S. food and agricultural products.  For more information write us at: agmadrid@fas.usda.gov.