Kosovo to rethink trade embargo?

The Kosovo Ministry of Trade and Industry says that Pristina will not block imports from Serbia after all, daily Koha Ditore reported yesterday. The paper stated despite the fact that the necessary preparations had been made for this measure, the Kosovo government expected the problem to be solved at international level. Kosovo to rethink trade embargo? Only a few days ago, a representative from the provincial government stated that Kosovo was prepared to respond to Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina's blockade with an embargo on imports of their products to Kosovo. The Kosovo Chamber of Commerce called on its Serbian and Bosnian counterparts to urge the institutions in those countries to lift the blockade on imports from Kosovo and on products originating in Kosovo, transiting through Serbia and Bosnia-Hercegovina. The Kosovo Chamber of Commerce said that those to suffer most from the blockade would be Serbian and Bosnian businesses, as Pristina says that it will respond with a counter-embargo of its own. Serbian export to Kosovo totals around EUR 260mn, while import is around EUR 2.2mn. Bosnian export to the province is around EUR 40mn, while import comes to only a few million euros. Asked about the possibility of Kosovo introducing an embargo, provincial Prime Minister Hashim Thaci did not wish to give a direct answer. “We don’t want to build an isolated country or region. We want our country and region to be open, integrated and to progress through trade in the common interests of our peoples. We’ll work to that end, together with the international community, to find the best solution for everything,“ said Thaci. As part of the preparations for the expected embargo, the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce signed an agreement on Friday with its counterparts in Albania and north-west Macedonia, which had undertaken to supply goods that Kosovo used to receive from Serbia and Bosnia-Hercegovina.

Kosovo to rethink trade embargo?

Only a few days ago, a representative from the provincial government stated that Kosovo was prepared to respond to Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina's blockade with an embargo on imports of their products to Kosovo.

The Kosovo Chamber of Commerce called on its Serbian and Bosnian counterparts to urge the institutions in those countries to lift the blockade on imports from Kosovo and on products originating in Kosovo, transiting through Serbia and Bosnia-Hercegovina.

The Kosovo Chamber of Commerce said that those to suffer most from the blockade would be Serbian and Bosnian businesses, as Priština says that it will respond with a counter-embargo of its own.

Serbian export to Kosovo totals around EUR 260mn, while import is around EUR 2.2mn.

Bosnian export to the province is around EUR 40mn, while import comes to only a few million euros.

Asked about the possibility of Kosovo introducing an embargo, provincial Prime Minister Hashim Thaci did not wish to give a direct answer.

“We don’t want to build an isolated country or region. We want our country and region to be open, integrated and to progress through trade in the common interests of our peoples. We’ll work to that end, together with the international community, to find the best solution for everything,“ said Thaci.

As part of the preparations for the expected embargo, the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce signed an agreement on Friday with its counterparts in Albania and north-west Macedonia, which had undertaken to supply goods that Kosovo used to receive from Serbia and Bosnia-Hercegovina.