Belgian Finance Minister Jambon is working to make shopping in Belgium more attractive by lowering duties on certain products, aiming to curb cross-border shopping, especially near the French border.

High excise duties in Belgium currently incentivize consumers to shop across the border, as items like alcohol and some consumer goods are cheaper in neighboring countries such as France.

The government plans to abolish duties on essentials like tea, coffee, and soft drinks, and reduce levies on reusable packaging and bottled water to lower prices and discourage cross-border shopping.

These reductions are expected to make domestically purchased goods more affordable, encouraging consumers to shop locally and potentially increasing government revenue despite lower taxes.

The federal coalition agreement highlights reforms, including tax cuts, to improve Belgium’s economic competitiveness and make shopping in Belgium more appealing.

Further duty reductions are being considered for products that are more expensive in Belgium than in neighboring countries, such as spirits, although political support for these measures remains uncertain.