Belgian PM hits out at 'arbitrary' tariffs, backs India-EU trade pact
Belgian PM Bart De Wever criticised arbitrary tariffs and backed the India-EU FTA as a stabiliser at a Mumbai business dialogue.
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever on Friday took a veiled swipe at protectionist trade policies, criticising nations that impose tariffs "arbitrarily" and without economic logic. Speaking at the India-Belgium high-level dialogue on the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in Mumbai, De Wever said such measures "deliberately and structurally distort markets" and put global economic and geopolitical stability under strain.
Without naming any country, De Wever mocked the unpredictability of some tariff decisions. "They decide something on Monday, they revoke it on Wednesday," he said, adding that such strategies of protectionism and unfair competition seek to make trade partners dependent.
De Wever argued that the proposed India-EU FTA would help both economies withstand economic disruption and coercion. He also announced that a delegation of Belgian companies from the port, terminal, logistics, chemical, and energy sectors 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 open opportunities for farmers, start-ups, and women entrepreneurs while protecting sensitive sectors on both sides. "India and Belgium have a choice to be swept by the chaos or build trust and cooperation. We chose to build, connect and work together," Goyal said.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis pitched the state as the preferred destination for Belgian investment, saying, "If Belgium companies are looking at India for investment after the FTA, come to Maharashtra." He offered dedicated teams to fast-track projects and said the state was volunteering to convert strategic direction into action.
The dialogue at the Jio World Convention Centre was jointly organised by the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, the Belgian PM's Chancellery, Belgium's Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, Flanders Investment & Trade, and the Consulate-General of Belgium in Mumbai.