Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever has warned that rising protectionism, arbitrary tariffs and unfair competition could threaten global economic and geopolitical stability, while calling for stronger India-EU trade and maritime cooperation.
Speaking at a high-level dialogue on the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in Mumbai, De Wever criticised countries that impose unpredictable trade barriers and tariffs. Without naming US President Donald Trump, he said some governments change tariff policies arbitrarily and without economic logic.
He also warned against countries that deliberately distort markets to make trading partners economically dependent, an apparent reference to China.
De Wever said protectionism and unfair competition were placing pressure on both economies and geopolitical stability. He stressed the need for India and Belgium to move beyond discussions and focus on concrete projects.
Maritime Cooperation in Focus
The Belgian PM announced that the Port of Antwerp-Bruges will send a delegation to India in February 2027, bringing together companies and representatives from the port, logistics, chemicals and energy sectors.
He welcomed India’s decision to open maritime services and dredging under the India-EU FTA, saying it could create significant opportunities for Belgian companies. De Wever also highlighted Belgium’s experience in port development and dredging and called for greater cooperation in the maritime sector.
Green hydrogen was identified as another potential area of partnership, with India expanding its green hydrogen ambitions and Belgium seeking to become a major importer of green molecules in Europe.
Focus on Lab-Grown Diamonds
Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal called for deeper India-Belgium cooperation in lab-grown diamonds, particularly in technology and certification. He suggested linking Antwerp with Mumbai and Surat, India’s major diamond-processing and trading centres.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also called for faster implementation of India-EU FTA-related projects and proposed that Maharashtra become a key state for demonstrating the benefits of the agreement.
Before the dialogue, De Wever visited the Bharat Diamond Bourse in Mumbai, becoming the first foreign prime minister to visit the facility and underscoring the longstanding diamond-trade relationship between India and Belgium.
