The Foreign Trade Chamber of BiH requested an immediate response from the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations to the decision of the Ministry of Economy of Kosovo on the introduction of a protective measure on the import of milk and sour cream from BiH as well as the introduction of protective measures during the import of fruits and vegetables from all countries on the territory of Kosovo.
When statistical data on import and export is considered, it is clear that BiH has no registered exports of fresh fruit and vegetables, but an important amount of export of milk and sour cream is placed on the market of Kosovo.
Since this procedure might jeopardize the export of dairy industry of BiH, they requested to undertake all the counter measures as soon as possible in order to prevent a 17 % import duty on milk and dairy products from BiH to Kosovo.
“We recall that the dairy industry of BiH started recording an important step forward in exports last year and the market of Kosovo represents one of the most important markets for the export of milk and dairy products from BiH. According to data in the possession of the Chamber, the total export for tariffs mentioned in the Decision in 2017 amounted to more than 10 million BAM, and it was about 4.7 million BAM in the year of 2018. Therefore, the importance of export of BH dairy industry to this market is clear,” as noted from the Foreign Trade Chamber of BiH.
The Chamber requested from the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH, in case that the Decision comes into force, to introduce counter measures in accordance with products imported from Kosovo. Moreover, they also proposed paying special attention to the import of water, mineral and with added sugar, as an example of the final product imported from that territory.
To recall, the Decision on the introduction of protective measures during the import of fruit and vegetables from all countries on the territory of Kosovo came into force on June 18, 2018.
(Source: Sarajevo Times)
