Serbian Trade and Telecommunications Minister Rasim Ljajic said on Thursday that following Pristina’s 100 percent customs duties on goods from Serbia introduced on November 21, Belgrade had lost 34.6 million Euros and that the move boosted smuggling, FoNet news agency reports.

Ljajic told public broadcaster RTS the figure showed only the direct damage to Serbia’s export, adding the measure had multiple effects indirectly. He said the goods that were going to Kosovo included re-exported products and foreign brands. Ljajic added that “the smuggling is also blooming".

Commenting on the US President Donald Trump’s letter to both Kosovo and Serbia presidents, Hashim Thaci and Aleksandar Vucic, Ljajic said it showed the American intent to engage in the Belgrade – Pristina dialogue and to demonstrate its power to the European Union which failed to move the process forward.

“Besides, it serves Thaci’s attempt to receive the international support in the absence of backing at home,” Ljajic said, adding Belgrade and Pristina were far away from a final phase in the dialogue considering the events on the ground.