The Economic Relationship Between Belgium and the U.S.

The United States established diplomatic relations with Belgium in 1832 following Belgium’s declaration of independence from the the Netherlands. The Belgian public recognizes America’s role during and after the two World Wars, which included Belgium’s liberation from Nazi Germany in 1944.

Brussels in particular is known as the seat of NATO and the EU. Belgium is a founding member of both organizations, which gives them a diplomatic edge on geopolitical issues impacting the world today. Today, both the United States and Belgium share values that promote security, human rights, and prosperity for all.

From an economic perspective, Belgium is an open market in a central location in Europe with significant ties to the world’s major economies. Its world-class logistics and transportation systems to Europe, globally renowned institutions including NATO, sophistical research facilities, and partnerships within the Eurozone enable Belgium to be an attractive locale for U.S. investors. In 2020, Belgian exports to the United States were worth $29 billion, and the U.S. market represented Belgium’s 5th largest export destination. Major Belgian exports included chemicals (65.6%), machinery and equipment (9.7%), and transport equipment (4.5%). In 2020, the United States ranked as Belgium’s 4th largest supplier of imports with a total value of imported goods of nearly $27 billion. Major U.S. exports to Belgium included chemicals (38.5%), transport equipment (12.9%) and machinery and equipment (12%).

Join the World Affairs Council of Charlotte in partnership with The NC Zeitgeist Foundation on Tuesday, January 25, 2022 with H.E. Jean-Arthur Régibeau, Ambassador of Belgium to the U.S, who will share insights on the economic partnership and diplomatic relationship between Belgium and the United States.

Program Partner: 

 

Program Information: 

Date:
Tuesday, January 25, 2022
VIP Reception:
11:30 – 12:00 PM ET
Lunch & Presentation: 
12:00 – 1:30 PM E.T.
Location:
Hilton Charlotte Uptown Directions
Cost:
Free (By Invitation Only)

 

 

 

Biography: 

H.E. Jean-Arthur Régibeau represents His Majesty The King of the Belgians and Belgium’s federal government in the United States of America and in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. He is responsible for the direction and work of the Embassy and its Consulates, including bilateral political and economic relations, visa and consular services.

After a few years of working for private business and later as a legal advisor, Jean-Arthur Régibeau joined the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1998. He was the diplomatic advisor to the Minister of Defense from 1999 to 2002 and he went on to be First Secretary at the Belgian Embassy in Berlin. From 2003-2007, Mr. Régibeau returned to Brussels as Head of the Private Office of the Minister of Defense. In 2007, he was appointed Director general in charge of Multilateral Organizations at the Foreign Ministry. In this capacity, he managed some aspects of the Belgian presidency of the European Union in 2010. From 2012-2016, he also was Deputy Commissioner for the commemoration of World War I. In 2016, he took up his role as Ambassador to the Russian Federation, Armenia, Belarus & Uzbekistan.

As a trainee, Mr. Régibeau worked for a Belgian bank in New York in 1987-1988. Working for a tour operator, he escorted groups of Belgian tourists visiting the United States in 1991 and 1992.

Mr. Régibeau studied at the State University of Liège where he obtained his Master’s degree in Law in 1984.  From there, he went on to obtain a Certificate in International Law from the State University of Leiden in the Netherlands in 1985. One year later, he joined the Johns Hopkins University SAIS program in Bologna, Italy, where he obtained a diploma in International Relations.

Ambassador Régibeau has been a guest professor on European institutions and Europe and Globalization at the University of Liège.  He also gave lectures on Globalization and Security issues at the Defense Ministry in Brussels (2007-2015).

Mr. Régibeau is the author of “La doctrine nucléaire française et sa dimension européenne”, Nice, 1987 and “Les causes profondes du 11 septembre” in La démocratie après le 11 septembre, Université de Liège, 2004.

Jean-Arthur Régibeau was born in 1962 in Liège. He is both a Belgian and Swiss citizen and has one daughter. In addition to some Italian and some Russian, Ambassador Régibeau speaks fluent French, Dutch, English and German. Mr. Régibeau likes soccer, hiking, strategy games, history and literature.