Belgian carpet makers have warned the EU should not introduce trade barriers with Britain because it will destroy their businesses. Leaders of the textile industry joined German car makers in raising concerns about how the EU would suffer if it stopped Britain having tariff-free access to the single market. Interestingly, carpets, curtains and other fabrics are sold across the Channel from Belgium every year for a total receipt of over 600 million euros (£535million).

Fa Quix, head of Belgium's Textile and Carpet Federation, said that the United Kingdom was its biggest market. One metre in every three of the carpets and textiles produced in Flanders are exported there. He also rued that Brexit was bad news because of the fall in the value of the pound. This has made the British competitors 15 per cent cheaper within a few months.

Tom Debusschere, chief executive of carpet giant Balta, observed that the important thing was that there was no new trade barriers. The Belgian fishing industry has also warned that they will be under threat if they are barred from entering British waters. The 70–strong fleet catches about 60 per cent of its fish amounting about 12,000 tons off Britain’s coast. The warnings to the EU deliver another boost for Britain's hopes of securing favourable trade terms with the bloc after Brexit.