Belgian Prime Minister takes a dig at ‘arbitrary’ tariffs, praises FTA

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever criticized the arbitrary nature of trade barriers imposed by countries, particularly in relation to US President Donald Trump's tariff policies. Addressing the India-Belgium high-level dialogue on the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in Mumbai, De Wever stated that such policies "deliberately and structurally distort markets" and harm global economic stability.

He also announced that a delegation of Belgian companies would visit India in February 2027 to explore business opportunities.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal described the India-EU FTA as a "win-win agreement" that would benefit farmers, start-ups, and women entrepreneurs while safeguarding sensitive sectors. He emphasized that India and Belgium must choose between being "swept by chaos" or "building trust and cooperation." Goyal highlighted the complementary nature of the Belgian and Indian economies.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis pitched the state as an ideal destination for Belgian investment, urging companies to consider Maharashtra as their base after the FTA. Fadnavis stressed that the state's manufacturing ecosystem would enable Belgian and Indian economies to mutually benefit. He called for fast-tracking projects between Belgium and Maharashtra and pledged dedicated teams to support prospective investors.

The dialogue was jointly organized by the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, Belgium's Chancellery, the Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, Flanders Investment & Trade, and the Consulate-General of Belgium in Mumbai.