DECISION ON REMOVING CUSTOMS ON GOODS FROM THE USA PREPARED

SARAJEVO, APRIL 8 /SRNA/ - The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations in the Council of Ministers prepared today a decision on the temporary suspension of customs rates for the import of goods from the USA.

The Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Staša Košarac said that this decision was made at the initiative of the President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik, the request of the Serb member and Chairperson of the BiH Presidency Željka Cvijanović and based on the conclusion of the Government of Republika Srpska.

"It is significant from the perspective of global trends. The decision has been made. We will start consultations with the Indirect Tax Administration during the day," Košarac said.

Košarac stated that the draft decision could be sent to the Council of Ministers by the end of the week.

"Our proposal is for the goods originating from the USA to be completely exempt from customs duties, which means that there would be a zero rate of customs duties," Košarac told reporters.

He stated that this would enable negotiations with the American administration that would lead to the free flow of goods between BiH and the USA.

"It is an important measure, which is based on the initiative of the institutions of Republika Srpska", Košarac said and added that the conclusion and entry into force of such an agreement would mean investment momentum in Republika Srpska and the Federation of BiH /FBiH/, and that the surrounding countries do not have such an agreement.

Košarac said that the task was given to the competent sector to prepare a draft of the free trade agreement, and that consultations with the FBiH will also be carried out.

"I think that this initiative of the president of Republika Srpska and the institutions of Republika Srpska should be accepted in Sarajevo as well, because in this way intensive work is being done to improve the economic environment both in Republika Srpska and in the FBiH," Košarac said.

Košarac noted that he does not want to prejudge the solution, but that the fact is that political Sarajevo BiH, in terms of trade, drives only in one direction - to the EU.

"This does not mean that we will stop working on improving relations with the EU, but it means that we have a very clear position, that as the first country in the region, on the Balkans, it has a free trade agreement with the USA, which is a serious politics of Milorad Dodik and the institutions of Republika Srpska," Košarac pointed out.

Košarac said that all those who do not support this initiative will have to answer to the businessmen.

"As the line minister coming from Republika Srpska, I started the initiative and I believe that in the next ten days we will have a decision on the agenda, so we will see how the other members of the Council of Ministers will support it," Košarac said.