The Council of Ministers did not adopt the decision to introduce a temporary safeguard measure on the import of steel and steel products, proposed by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, in the second round of voting, because the ministers from the Croatian people were against it.
Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations in the Council of Ministers Staša Košarac stated that the decision to introduce a safeguard measure is in accordance with the Stabilization and Association Agreement /SAA/ and that he does not know why the ministers from the Croatian people voted against it.
“It seems to me that this Council of Ministers is a general caricature. On important topics, such as transporters, steel and some other issues, it demonstrates an unskillful need to isolate ourselves from solving these problems,” Košarac told reporters in Sarajevo after the session of the Council of Ministers.
He stated that the question arises as to what the role of the Council of Ministers is if not to be institutionally with transporters and take care of foreign trade.
“Then what should we decide on?”, asked Košarac.
He pointed out that the decision to introduce a protective measure, which he proposed, received a positive opinion from the governments of Republika Srpska and the Federation of BiH, as well as the entire chamber system in BiH.
“Individuals from the Council of Ministers should take responsibility after a series of warnings that there will be serious problems when it comes to mining, energy and transport,” said Košarac, adding that according to some trade union organizations, around 11,000 jobs are at risk.
He pointed out that the negative balance and situation in the steel mill, and thus in the mines, and therefore the railways of the FBiH and Republika Srpska, are conditioned by increased imports of steel from Italy, China and Turkey, while BiH is burdened with the Carbon Cross-Border Adjustment Mechanism – CBAM when exporting.
“This speaks volumes about the need to propose a decision on the introduction of protective measures, in accordance with our competences, as all other neighboring countries have done,” said Košarac, recalling that a temporary decision for 200 days was proposed, which the SAA allows, as well as the introduction of 20 percent customs duties, with the deposit of these funds pending a detailed analysis after 200 days.
He stated that the ministers from the Croat people in the Council of Ministers should be asked why they did not support the decision, adding that he did not know whether anyone was protecting anyone.
“I do not know if anyone did not have enough information, but I think that the most credible information was the warning from trade union organizations,” said Košarac.
