Experts talk about millions Serbia will lose due to 100% tax

This is a rough estimate of experts that, if it continues by the end of the year, exports of goods from Serbia to Kosovo will be lower by about 5 per cent compared to 2017. Serbs in Kosovo mainly exported water, sugar, oil, wheat.

In all, the overall circulation of goods with Kosovo in 2017 was 464.1m euros, according to data from Serbia's Economic Ode. The surrender reached 442.3m euros. If the trade blockade with Kosovo continues by the end of this year, and given the assessment of the decline in exports of about 5%, it means that by the end of this year it will reach only 420m euros.

Given that each year circulation between Serbia and Kosovo rises by about 5% and is expected to reach about 500m euros by the end of 2018, the loss is much higher. It is then about 80m euros, what is the difference between the expected 500m euros and the most likely scenario of about 420m euros in goods delivery from Serbia to Kosovo, broadcast newspapers.net.

In 2017, Serbia, according to PCS data, mainly supplied water to Kosovo (simple and gased), white sugar, sunflower oil, wheat, nonalcohol beverages, motor gasoline, gas oils, cleaning money, and electricity.

Kosovo is not CEFTA signatory, but UNMIK

“Biznis” and “Economier” Radojka Nikolic stressed that Pristina's “courtesy” was a major violation of CEFTA rules. He said the decision to introduce a 100 per cent fee for goods from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina was a major violation of the CEFTA agreement. Nikolic recalled that Kosovo is neither CEFTA signatory, but has a UNMIK signatory or a temporary institution in it.

“Everything Pristina is now doing is a major violation of the CEFTA agreement, which, conceived as a free European centre market, was established in 1992 to prepare countries to join the EU by creating free, almost free trade. CEFTA does not have a mechanism for attracting CEFTA states”, Nikolic said, broadcast newspapers.net.

As he said, there are continuing flour problems, so with milk, and for years there are non-tariff barriers.
Brussels' “Reaction is such as leaving completely unappreciated”, Nikolic added.

The German-Serbian Chamber of Commerce ( AHK Serbia reacted to current events. They stress that they are in line with the position of EU High Representative Federica Mogerini and condemn the apparent violation of CEFTA, prompted by the Kosovo provisional government's decision to increase the tax on goods from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina to 100 per cent.

“Under the Berlin “Process” in July 2017, an agreement was reached for a stronger economic connection and the creation of a regional economic zone of the Western Balkans, despite different national policies.

Strengthening regional economic co-operation and establishing the basis for sustainable economic growth are the fundamental goals defined by the “Berlin Declaration”. The introduction of Pristina measures is a departure from the specific goals set out by the “Berlin Declaration”, and mostly affects people in Kosovo whose living expenses have been significantly increased with this decision”, the AHK says.
By September, export value was 369m euros

According to the latest data in Serbia's Chamber of Commerce, in exchange with Kosovo in 2018, we had an 8.2 per cent growth trend, ending in September 2018. According to the PKS, this means that by the end of the year they would have achieved a profit of nearly 500m euros, broadcast newspapers.net.

Thus, the total flow of goods with Kosovo in the January-September 2018 reached 369.2m euros, while product shipments reached 349.6m euros. The purchases reached 19.6m euros, and a 329.9m-euro sum was implemented in exchange for goods.