We are pleased to announce the release of our latest publication “BELGIAN ADVANCED MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGIES”, realised in cooperation with the FPS Foreign Affairs, Flanders Investment & Trade, the Wallonia Export-Investment Agency (AWEX) and hub.brussels.
This publication examines the extent to which Belgian exporters use Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), and their reasons for (not) doing so.
The first part looks at how much import tariffs can be saved on Belgian products thanks to FTAs, and to what extent these advantages are actually used. This is done by providing a broad overview of partner countries and exporting sectors, but also by combining both to find quick wins. Finally, the role of the preferential margin in the use of FTAs is briefly examined.
In the second part, we investigate why Belgian exporters use or do not use an FTA, relying on input received from over 500 respondents participating in a survey. Based on this, exporters can understand why some of their competitors consider an FTA to be relevant and how those companies deal with issues such as Rules of Origin, why other exporters do not use an FTA and learn how companies working with an intermediary deal with FTAs.
Also building upon the insights from the preceding publication realised in 2021, “A closer look” provides a robust picture of the use of FTAs by Belgian exporters.
