Robin Walker listens to Belgian businesses’ views on Brexit
Minister Robin Walker today met with Belgian businesses to hear their views about the Implementation Period and future relationship
The EU and Union Jack flag
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Exiting the EU Robin Walker said:
Our trading and political ties with Belgium are deep and longstanding, and we know they will continue and strengthen as we leave the EU.
As we look forward to our future relationship, an Implementation Period will be essential to provide certainty to people and businesses in the UK and in Belgium.
We are well underway in our discussions with the EU on the terms of an Implementation Period and hope to secure an agreement swiftly.
We are confident that we will be able to secure a future partnership that allows people from the UK and Belgium to continue enjoying open access to one another’s markets.
Minister Walker met with Mr Bernard Gilliot, President of Federation of Belgian Enterprise in Brussels, business leaders in Antwerp and the Chief Executive Officer of Antwerp’s Port Authority Jacques Vandermeiren.
Minister Walker reaffirmed the commitments made in the Brexit negotiations and underlined that the UK is working towards a frictionless approach to trade.
In Antwerp, Minister Walker got a birds’ eye view of the busy operations at the Port, which is an important gateway for UK trade with the rest of the world.