Macedonia to change wheat import decision

BELGRADE Macedonia took on the obligation on Monday to eliminate the controversial decision to limit imports of wheat and flour "within a reasonable period of time." This was revealed on Monday in Belgrade by Serbia's Assistant Minister at the Ministry of Foreign and Internal Trade and Telecommunications Republic of Serbia Trade Bojana Todorovic. Macedonia to change wheat import decision The deadline for this has not been set yet and since the said products are specific, the deadline should range between one and one and a half months, Todorovic told reporters upon the conclusion of the special session of the joint CEFTA Committee in Belgrade. The Monday session of the Committee was organised at Serbia's request over the illegal measures Macedonia introduced in the import of wheat and flour. CEFTA members accepted Serbia's arguments that the measure is not in keeping with the CEFTA agreement and that it has to be eliminated urgently, Todorovic said. She noted that it was also proposed that the decisions should be adopted which would entail shortening the procedures for the possibility of introduction of countermeasures in repeated cases. Todorovic said that in case Macedonia fails to carry out the Monday agreement within around a month and does not cancel the contradictory measure, Serbia would make use of certain benefits from the CEFTA agreement that would lead to introduction of counter-measures so as to compensate the loss triggered by the limitation in exports. The Macedonian government adopted the decision in early July to link the import of Serbia's wheat and flour to the purchase of local wheat and flour until the end of the year. According to the decision, Macedonian importers were instructed to purchase 3 kilograms of local wheat per kilogram of wheat imported from other countries, including Serbia, and to buy 4 kilograms of local flour per kilogram of imported flour. Tanjug

Macedonia to change wheat import decision

The deadline for this has not been set yet and since the said products are specific, the deadline should range between one and one and a half months, Todorović told reporters upon the conclusion of the special session of the joint CEFTA Committee in Belgrade.

The Monday session of the Committee was organised at Serbia's request over the illegal measures Macedonia introduced in the import of wheat and flour.

CEFTA members accepted Serbia's arguments that the measure is not in keeping with the CEFTA agreement and that it has to be eliminated urgently, Todorović said.

She noted that it was also proposed that the decisions should be adopted which would entail shortening the procedures for the possibility of introduction of countermeasures in repeated cases.

Todorović said that in case Macedonia fails to carry out the Monday agreement within around a month and does not cancel the contradictory measure, Serbia would make use of certain benefits from the CEFTA agreement that would lead to introduction of counter-measures so as to compensate the loss triggered by the limitation in exports.

The Macedonian government adopted the decision in early July to link the import of Serbia's wheat and flour to the purchase of local wheat and flour until the end of the year.

According to the decision, Macedonian importers were instructed to purchase 3 kilograms of local wheat per kilogram of wheat imported from other countries, including Serbia, and to buy 4 kilograms of local flour per kilogram of imported flour.