The impact of EU-China tariff escalation and retaliation
March 2026
This report analyses the potential economic impact of an escalating trade war between the European Union (EU) and China across three plausible scenarios. In Scenario 1, the EU imposes a uniform +10% multiplicative increase in ad-valorem tariffs on all Chinese goods imports—that is, existing tariff rates are scaled up by a factor of 1.10, so a 4% tariff becomes 4.4%. Scenario 2 extends this tariff to services as well. In Scenario 3, China retaliates by levying targeted tariffs on selected EU export sectors. All three scenarios are counterfactual simulations: they quantify the cost of escalation under specific policy assumptions, not assessments of real-world measures that have been implemented up to date.

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The impact of US 2025 tariffs on the Belgian economy
October 2025
This report quantifies the economic impact of the 2025 US tariff package on imports from the European Union and the rest of the world, with a particular focus on Belgium and its regions.

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Strategic Global Supply Chains, China and the Role of Critical Raw Materials for the European Union
October 2025
This study provides a data-driven assessment of the European Union’s (EU) dependence on Critical Raw Materials (CRMs), focusing on its exposure to Chinese supply chains and identifying alternative sources to enhance Europe’s strategic autonomy. It introduces a novel, empirically grounded framework that links detailed trade data with inter-industry production networks to quantify where Europe’s vulnerabilities lie and how they propagate through the economy.

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Estimating Belgian sector-regional value added
February 2025
This report proposes a comprehensive methodology for estimating sectoral and regional gross value added in Belgium for recent years that are not yet available in official statistics. It combines multiple data sources, econometric models and machine learning approaches to produce forecasts consistent with national macroeconomic projections. The study also provides tools and Python code to reproduce the results and facilitate future updates of regional estimates.

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Het belang van strategische sectoren in het vlaamse productienetwerk
December 2022
This report presents the main findings of a research project on the role of strategic sectors in the Flemish production network. It analyses the structure of the regional economic fabric, the importance of key companies and how economic shocks spread through value chains. The study also examines the impact of support policies, the degree of local anchoring of economic activities and the role of strategic clusters in Flanders. Finally, it explores the international organisation of companies and the economic or technological nature of the global value chains in which they operate.

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A Roadmap for Policy Choices after the Lock-down: the Role of Supply Chains, Networks and Key Strategic Sectors
November 2020
This report proposes a roadmap to guide economic policy in the wake of the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing on analysis of supply chain networks and input-output tables, it identifies strategic sectors that play a central role in the economy and have strong multiplier potential. The study highlights how economic shocks - but also stimulus measures - spread through links between companies and sectors. Finally, it emphasises the importance of an industrial policy based on solid economic data and support for activities that generate positive spillovers for the entire economic fabric.

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Updated on July 9, 2026