Analysis

Serbia and Bosnia set to counter Kosovo trade tariffs

Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina are planning to introduce countermeasures against Kosovo if the country does not remove discriminatory import tariffs before the next Western Balkans summit takes place in Paris on July 1.

“Bosnia and Herzegovina has delivered 27 million euros fewer goods to Kosovo than the same period last year, a 97 per cent drop,” said Mirko Šarović, deputy chairman of the Bosnia and Herzegovina council of ministers and minister of foreign trade and economic relations .

Serbia has been similarly hit by the tariffs: exports to Kosovo dropped by 189.5 million euros, or 80 per cent.

Both Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina believe that Kosovan citizens are suffering from the tariffs, given that retail prices have increased by 5.3 per cent since they were first introduced last year.  The country’s foreign trade deficit has increased by 5.4 per cent.