Walloon companies wishing to export to the United Kingdom in spite of Brexit will be granted €30,000 in aid by the Regional Government to improve the region's exports to the UK, which have been hampered by recent trade disputes between the British and Belgian governments.
In 2019, the United Kingdom represented the fifth-largest market for Walloon exports. However, mostly due to the UK's formal withdrawal from the European Union as a result of the Brexit vote, they are now only the eighth-largest market for southern Belgian exports.
As a result, Willy Borsus (MR), Wallonia's Minister for Economy, told La Libre that "we would like to be able to adapt our measures to help Walloon companies partially regain market share," Willy Borsus (MR), Wallonia's Minister for Economy.
To that end, he has announced that an aid package worth a maximum of €30,000 will be granted to the region's companies who wish to export their products into Britain.
This amount is intended to cover all costs incurred by the exporting companies, such as labelling and market research. Furthermore, Borsus added that "we will also be giving a boost to start-ups by financing 80% of the salary cost of those hired to oversee the exportation process."
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Martin Buxant, journalist at LN24, remarked that Borsus was solely blaming the UK despite recent tensions within Belgium's ruling coalition reportedly resulting in a breakdown in trade between both nations.
He further alluded to rumours that the UK Government is suspending an arms agreement with gun company FN Herstal, due to the Belgian government delaying the transfer of nuclear arms to the UK.
Translation of tweet: "So, I would say (modestly) that we should start by not blocking their requests for Belgian material for their (the UK) defence. Just a thought..."
However, these rumours were swiftly denied by the Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo who indicated his disappointment that such confidential information was even being discussed.
Furthermore, an unidentified source told The Brussels Times that the French-speaking liberals MR had used the issue as retaliation against the greens in government, whom they accuse of having blocked the nuclear arms delivery.
