Tariffs cost Serbia millions, Trade Minister Ljajic says (Prva TV, BETA, TV N1)
The tariffs imposed by Pristina have cost the Serbian economy 30 million EUR in lost revenue, Trade Minister Rasim Ljajic said on Monday.
Ljajic told Prva TV that Serbian export to Kosovo was 30 million EUR lower than in the previous year, adding that no goods were sent to Kosovo from Serbia between November 21 when Pristina raised the tariffs on goods from Serbia to 100 percent and December 11 when the Ministry did its latest review.
He added, this does not include international brands which are exempt from the measures imposed by the Kosovo government.
Ljajic said the current crisis has to be resolved before any negotiations are started. “We shouldn’t bargain over the measures, the tariffs have to be revoked before we open room to resolve other important issues,” he said commenting the announced meeting between EU High Representative Federica Mogherini and Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj about the revoking of the tariffs and replacing UNMIK for Kosovo with an asterisk on the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA).