PROTECTIVE MEASURES NOT ADOPTED IN SECOND ROUND OF VOTING; CROAT MINISTERS VOTED AGAINST

SARAJEVO, MARCH 23 /SRNA/ – The Council of Ministers did not adopt in the second round of voting the decision introducing a temporary protective measures on imports of steel and steel products, proposed by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, as Croat ministers voted against it.

The Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations in the Council of Ministers Staša Košarac stated that the decision to introduce the protective measures is in line with the Stabilization and Association Agreement /SAA/, and that he does not know why Croat ministers voted against it.

"It seems to me that this Council of Ministers is a complete caricature. An unskillful tendency to isolate ourselves from solving the problems related to important issues such as transport operators, steel, and others is being demonstrated," Košarac told the press in Sarajevo after the session of the Council of Ministers.

He has stated the question arises as to what the role of the Council of Ministers is if not to institutionally support transport operators and take care of foreign trade flows.

"So what are we supposed to decide on?" Košarac asked.

He emphasized that the decision introducing the protective measures he proposed received positive opinions from the governments of Republika Srpska and the Federation of BiH, as well as from the entire chamber system in BiH.

"Individuals in the Council of Ministers should take responsibility after a series of warnings that serious problems will arise in mining, energy, and transport," Košarac said, adding that, according to some trade union organisations, around 11,000 jobs are at risk.

He pointed out that the negative balance and the situation in the steel industry, consequently in the mines, thus also in the railways of the Federation of BiH and Republika Srpska, are caused by increased imports of steel from Italy, China, and Turkey, while BiH exports are burdened by the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism /CBAM/.

"That clearly indicates the need, within our competencies, to propose a decision on introducing protective measures, as all neighbouring countries have done," Košarac said, recalling that a temporary decision was proposed for 200 days, as allowed by the SAA, along with the introduction of 20 percent tariffs, with those funds to be deposited pending a detailed analysis after 200 days.

He said that Croat ministers in the Council of Ministers should be asked why they did not support the decision, adding that he does not know whether someone is protecting someone.

"I don't know if someone lacked sufficient information, but I believe the warning from trade union organizations was the most credible information was," Košarac said.