The Treasurer’s Guide to Trade Finance

Belgium

Principal exports

Machinery and equipment, chemicals, finished
diamonds, metals and metal products, and
foodstuffs.

Import/Export documentation

Within the EU: no documentation
requirements, but a commercial invoice is
typically included.

Outside the EU: commercial invoice, customs
declaration, bill of lading, packing list and,
sometimes, a certificate of origin.

Licences

Imports

ƒ Diamonds, armaments, and various textiles
and steel products from outside the EU.

ƒ Import licences with quotas: various steel
products from Russia and Kazakhstan; and
various textiles from Belarus and North
Korea.

Exports

ƒ Diamonds, weapons and strategic items.

Tariffs/Taxes

Imports

ƒ Tariffs on imports from outside the EU are

set according to the EU’s common customs

code, with higher rates for agricultural

imports.

Exports

ƒ None.

Financing requirements for imports/

exports

ƒ None.

Prohibited items

ƒ Imports that are prohibited in accordance

with EU regulations and UN Security Council

resolutions, such as items deemed a threat

to fauna and flora and national security.

ƒ Exports that are prohibited in accordance

with EU regulations and UN Security Council

resolutions.

Belgium imports exports

Trade information

Key trading partners

Imports by origin

EU 68.1%

USA 5.7%

China 4.3%

Russian

Federation 2.7%

Japan 2.0%

Other 17.2%

Source: WTO, September 2012

Exports by destination

EU 72.2%

USA 5.1%

India 2.3%

China 2.1%

Switzerland 1.6%

Other 16.7%