Belgian PM criticizes arbitrary tariff decisions in India
In Mumbai, India, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever criticized arbitrary decisions to impose and revoke tariffs during a high-level India-Belgium dialogue on the free trade agreement between India and the EU. According to NDTV World, he did not directly name US President Donald Trump, but after applause said that the audience probably understood who was being referred to.
Criticism of tariff barriers
De Wever said that more and more voices are calling for building barriers, closing markets and imposing tariffs. According to him, some participants in international trade make such decisions arbitrarily: they may impose them on Monday, revoke them on Wednesday and reinstate them on Saturday.
NDTV World linked these remarks to criticism of Trump’s trade policy, including the use of tariffs and shifts in positions on international trade. De Wever himself did not mention the US president by name in his speech.
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India-EU agreement
The Belgian prime minister also said that a free trade agreement between India and the European Union could become a structural safeguard against the unilateral and arbitrary use of tariffs. In his view, such an agreement would help both economies withstand shocks and coercion.
De Wever said that medium-sized open trading economies, including Belgium, as well as rapidly developing India, cannot afford economic isolation and the use of trade as an instrument of pressure. He also called Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wise and one of the world’s most inspiring leaders.
