Belgium PM Bart De Wever says India-EU FTA will shield economies from arbitrary tariffs, strengthen strategic trust, boost trade resilience and create investment opportunities across India and Europe.
Belgium Prime Minister Bart De Wever on Friday said the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) would strengthen economic resilience and protect both sides against arbitrary trade barriers, unilateral tariffs and global supply chain disruptions.
Speaking at the India-Belgium High-Level Dialogue on the India-EU FTA in Mumbai, De Wever described the agreement as a cornerstone of strategic trust between India and Europe. He stressed that finalising comprehensive free trade agreements remains a priority for Europe as economies face increasing uncertainty caused by protectionism, tariff measures and geopolitical tensions.
Without naming US President Donald Trump, the Belgian Prime Minister criticised the growing use of unpredictable trade barriers. He said some countries were raising or withdrawing tariffs without clear economic reasoning, creating uncertainty for businesses and global markets.
“More and more voices today are calling for barriers to go up, for markets to be shut off, for tariffs to be imposed,” De Wever said. He added that open and mid-sized trading economies such as Belgium, along with rapidly expanding economies such as India, could not afford isolation or trade barriers being used as instruments of pressure.
De Wever said the India-EU FTA would provide a structural buffer against unilateral tariff actions while strengthening cooperation between the two economies. He described the agreement as an expression of strategic openness, mutual trust and respect.
“We are sailing through rough waters. But India and Europe, we have made a choice to be that diamond; we choose another course,” he said, referring to Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal’s earlier comparison of pressure creating diamonds.
The Belgian Prime Minister highlighted the scale of the agreement, describing it as one of the most far-reaching trade agreements and noting that it covers a market of around two billion consumers and a significant share of the global economy. He said the pact would make India and Europe stronger against economic disruption and coercion.
The dialogue was jointly organised by Port of Antwerp-Bruges, the Chancellery of the Belgian Prime Minister, Belgium’s FPS Foreign Affairs, Flanders Investment & Trade and the Consulate-General of Belgium in Mumbai. Union Minister Piyush Goyal and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis were also present.
De Wever further announced that a full delegation representing Belgium’s port community, including companies from terminals, logistics, chemicals and energy sectors, would visit India in February 2027. He said the visit would focus on concrete projects and implementation rather than merely discussing potential areas of cooperation.
“We are not going to discuss what we might do; we are going to agree on what we are going to do,” he said.
The Belgian Prime Minister also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, describing him as a wise leader and one of the most inspiring world leaders.
Goyal said the India-EU FTA represented a win-win agreement after 25 years of negotiations. He said the pact would create opportunities for farmers, start-ups and women entrepreneurs while protecting sensitive sectors on both sides.
According to Goyal, all 27 EU member states are supportive of the agreement, which he described as a rare demonstration of consensus. He said the agreement had received support across different sections of India and offered significant potential for 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, adding that the Belgian and Indian economies were complementary.
Fadnavis said Maharashtra wanted Belgium to become a partner in the state’s journey towards a trillion-dollar economy. He invited Belgian companies to invest in Maharashtra, highlighting the state’s manufacturing ecosystem and potential to serve as a gateway to the wider Indian and global markets.
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The Maharashtra Chief Minister said the state aimed to become the first in India to translate the India-EU FTA into concrete projects. He proposed fast-tracking Belgium-Maharashtra initiatives and assured Belgian investors of dedicated government support to identify and implement projects.
“Come to Maharashtra and from Maharashtra serve India and the world,” Fadnavis said, positioning the state as a potential hub for stronger India-Belgium economic cooperation under the new trade framework.
