FOREIGN TRADE.—In dealing with the foreign trade of Belgium a careful distinction must be drawn between the special and general exports and imports of the country. In this paragraph only the special trade is discussed. The imports consist largely of food stuffs and raw materials, while goods, wholly or partly manufactured, make up the bulk of the exports. Belgium's chief commercial relations are with the neighbouring countries of France, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, though large quantities of wheat are imported from the United States, Russia, and Rou mania, wool from the Argentine and Australia, and flax from Russia. Coal and iron ore come from France and Germany, and coal from Great Britain. Among the semi-manufactured articles imported are linen and cotton yarns and coal-tar from the United Kingdom, and iron and steel from Germany. Wholly manufactured products include chemicals, locomotives, and machin ery from Germany, cotton and woollen goods from France, and cotton goods and machinery from the United Kingdom. Among the raw materials exported by Belgium are coal and building stone to France and Holland, and flax to Great Britain and Ireland.
Semi-manufactured goods exported consist largely of zinc and wool to the United Kingdom, artificial silk, vegetable oils, and " Thomas Slag " to Germany, and coke briquettes and zinc to France. Among the wholly manufactured goods exported are cotton and linen fabrics, glass, and ceramic wares to Great Britain, chemicals, machinery, and ceramic wares to Germany, and machinery, locomotives, and chemicals to France.
The important transit trade of Belgium is conducted mainly through the port of Antwerp, which is connected by navigable waterways with France, Germany, and Holland. Among the goods imported for distribution in Europe are grain, wool, copper and other minerals, and rubber. The wool, however, by being washed at Verviers, undergoes a process preliminary to manufacture and is now entered under special trade in the Belgian statistics. The exports from Europe by Antwerp and other ports consist largely of manufactured goods, much of which comes from Germany.