LJAJIC: Barriers of Pristina authorities for seven agricultural products in effect, Serbia not drastically affected

Minister of Trade of Serbia Rasim Ljajic stated today that the barriers imposed by the temporary authorities in Pristina pertaining to the import of seven agricultural products remained in effect, but that Serbia was not drastically affected by those measures.

Ljajic explained that, concerning those products, Serbia exported fruit and vegetables worth around EUR 1.8 million to Kosovo and Metohija.

– To us, this is not a great loss, but it's a matter of principle. Pristina keeps implementing customs and non-customs barriers one by one and we insist for the so-called protective measures pertaining to the remaining seven products to be removed as well – Ljajic told RTS.

He added that the CEFTA was the second biggest exporting market for Serbia, following the market of the European Union, and that it exported 63% of its products to those countries.

– The CEFTA has reached a certain level and its further development will either be towards economic integration, which we are striving for, or backwards. At the moment, it seems as if it's moving backwards, as we don't see that others are ready to move forward in the direction of economic integration – Ljajic said.

The minister added that such trade barriers made no sense.

– The barriers make no sense for the temporary institutions and citizens in Kosovo either, as they will pay the price of such measures. Fruit and vegetable prices in Kosovo have already jumped, as it meets only 10% of its needs with its own production – Ljajic added.

Pristina previously decided to implement trade barriers, that is, a customs duty of 30% on the import of seasonal fruit and vegetables and corn, directly violating the CEFTA.

Ministarstvo turizma i omladine Republike Srbije

Ministry of Trade

Rasim Ljajic

CEFTA

customs duties of Pristina on import of fruit vegetables and corn

trade barriers of Pristina

trade of goods in CEFTA region

import of vegetables to Kosovo

import of fruits to Kosovo

import of corn to Kosovo

export of vegetables

export of fruit

export of corn

protective customs duties of Pristina