Belgian PM Bart De Wever took a dig at US President Donald Trump (Img: Pinterest)
Mumbai: Belgium Prime Minister Bart De Wever took a sharp swipe at unpredictable tariff policies during his India visit, saying some countries announce trade barriers, withdraw them and bring them back within days.
Speaking at the India-Belgium High-Level Dialogue on the India-EU Free Trade Agreement in Mumbai, De Wever said, “Some do this entirely arbitrarily. They decide something on Monday, they revoke it on Wednesday, and they reinstall it on Saturday.”
The remark drew applause from the audience, following which the Belgian PM added, “Your applause tells me you know who I am talking about.”
Although De Wever did not directly mention US President Donald Trump, his comments were widely interpreted as a reference to Trump’s shifting tariff decisions and trade policies.
De Wever highlighted the importance of the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement, saying stronger economic partnerships can help countries deal with global trade disruptions.
He said that open economies like Belgium and growing economies like India cannot afford isolation or trade barriers in an increasingly uncertain global environment.
During his address, the Belgian PM also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him a wise leader and saying his words carry influence on the global stage.
"We live in a chaotic world… but if PM Narendra Modi speaks, you think, we should do what he says. He's a wise leader," De Wever said.
His remarks came amid growing global debate over tariffs, protectionism and the future of international trade relations.
