The Minister for the Middle Classes, Self-Employed and SMEs, Eléonore Simonet, will consult representatives of the sectors affected by the trade war to quickly identify the concrete needs of SMEs and develop effective measures to support them in this crisis.
According to the Minister: “It is clear that the repercussions of this shock do not only affect large exporting companies; our SMEs and self-employed workers will also be heavily impacted”.
Minister Eléonore Simonet, in charge of the Middle Classes, Self-Employed and SMEs, is reacting strongly to the trade war triggered by the United States.
The new US import tariffs will have a significant impact on our businesses, including our SMEs.
According to data from the National Bank, 5,617 Belgian companies export to the United States. Nearly 92% of them have fewer than 250 employees.
The Minister has therefore announced consultations with representatives of SMEs, the High Council for the Self-Employed and SMEs, the Federal Public Service Economy, the National Institute for the Social Security of the Self-Employed, and representatives of the affected sectors.
The first consultation aims to draw up a complete inventory of the problems facing SMEs as a result of the trade war, focusing on companies directly or indirectly affected.
Based on this inventory, Minister Simonet and the parties involved will jointly develop concrete measures to be included in the SME Plan currently being prepared within the Minister's cabinet.