Belgian PM critiques trade protectionism in India

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever delivered a veiled critique of United States President Donald Trump's trade policies during a visit to India, emphasizing the importance of open markets and predictable economic partnerships. Speaking on Friday, September 4, 2026, in Mumbai at the IndiaBelgium HighLevel Dialogue on the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, De Wever cautioned against rising protectionism and what he described as arbitrary tariff decisions. "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 stated. "Some do this entirely arbitrarily. They decide something on Monday, they revoke it on Wednesday, and they reinstall it on Saturday." The Prime Minister's remarks, which drew applause from the audience, were made in the context of questions about shifting international trade policies. While he did not name Trump directly, De Wever added, "Your applause tells me you know who I am talking about." He also differentiated between arbitrary trade restrictions and deliberate, structural efforts to distort markets.