KOŠARAC REFERRED DECISION ON TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF CUSTOMS ON AMERICAN GOODS TO THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS

SARAJEVO, APRIL 11 /SRNA/ - The Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Staša Košarac, today signed a decision on the temporary suspension of customs rates on the import of goods originating in the USA, and referred it to the Council of Ministers for further procedures, after consultation with the BiH Indirect Tax Administration.

He expressed the hope that this proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations in the Council of Ministers will be included in the agenda of the Council of Ministers as soon as possible, at one of the first subsequent sessions.

Košarac, who is the Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, explained that the decision defined that a customs rate of zero percent will be applied to goods originating in the USA, that is, that American products imported into BiH will be exempt from any customs duties.

"We prepared the decision based on the initiative of the President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, and at the request of the Serb member and chairperson of the BiH Presidency, Željka Cvijanović, as well as on the basis of the conclusion of the Government of Republika Srpska," Košarac posted on "Instagram".

He expressed the expectation that there will be no stoppage in the decision-making system in Sarajevo, since it is important to understand the global political momentum and the importance of the initiative on the abolition of customs burdens on goods from the USA.

"That this is a correct initiative by President Dodik and the institutions of Srpska, for which we expect political support at the BiH level, is also evidenced by the fact that other world countries, such as Israel, follow the same policy and want to eliminate all trade barriers with the USA," Košarac pointed out.

He stated that the adoption of the decision on the temporary suspension of customs rates on the import of goods originating in the USA would allow entering into negotiations with the American administration on signing a free trade agreement, which is the ultimate goal.

"The conclusion and entry into force of such an agreement would mean a strong investment momentum and improvement of the economic environment in Srpska and the Federation of BiH, considering that the surrounding countries do not have this type of agreement with the USA," emphasized Košarac.