Mumbai: Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever took a sharp, veiled swipe at US President Donald Trump’s tariff policies in Mumbai, mocking leaders who,
he said, keep changing their trade decisions while imposing barriers on global markets. Speaking at the India-Belgium High-Level Dialogue on the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, De Wever said, "More and more voices today are calling for barriers to go up, for markets to be shut off, for tariffs to be imposed. 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. De Wever then added, "Your applause tells me you know who I am talking about." Although he did not name Trump, his comments appeared to target the US President's frequently changing tariff and trade policies.
De Wever Praises Modi, Backs India-EU Trade Deal
De Wever said the India-EU Free Trade Agreement would help protect both economies from sudden trade disruptions and unilateral tariffs. He stressed that countries such as Belgium and India need open markets and stronger economic partnerships instead of protectionism.
Calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi a wise and inspiring leader, De Wever said, "We live in a chaotic world. You are right. And if you hear many world leaders, you feel afraid, disturbed, threatened. But if PM Narendra Modi speaks, you think, hmm, we should do what he says. He's a wise leader, a wise leader. It was an honor to be in Delhi, but it is an honor and a pleasure to be in Mumbai, because I also, Minister, have my little favoritisms...."
De Wever's remarks came amid growing uncertainty over global tariffs and trade policies, with India and the European Union pushing to deepen economic ties through their proposed FTA.
