"TROIKA" DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF 30 PERCENT U.S. TARIFFS

SARAJEVO, JULY 8 /SRNA/ - The "Troika" is directly responsible for the negative effects that entrepreneurs from Republika Srpska and the Federation of BiH will face as a result of the 30 percent tariffs introduced by the United States, the Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations in the Council of Ministers Staša Košarac told SRNA.

Košarac pointed out that "Troika" officials, driven purely by petty political motives, sabotaged in various ways the initiative of Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik to introduce zero tariffs on imports from the United States into BiH, an initiative supported by both the Serb member and Chairwoman of the BiH Presidency Željka Cvijanović and the Government of Srpska.

"The `Troika` has thus shown that it does not wish to cooperate with the administration of US President Donald Trump," Košarac said.

He explained that President Dodik's initiative to abolish tariffs on goods imported from the United States was an extremely economically responsible move toward the domestic business sector, and an excellent step that could have acted preemptively to prevent the introduction of 30 percent tariffs by the US.

"Unfortunately, the `Troika` failed to support in time the decision of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations to fully exempt goods originating from the United States from customs duties, in other words, to introduce a zero tariff," Košarac said.

According to him, the decision was first sabotaged at the Collegium of the Council of Ministers by avoiding its inclusion in the session agenda.

"After we finally reached an agreement in the Council of Ministers, the `Troika`'s blockades continued in the BiH Presidency. Denis Bećirović removed from the agenda a proposed letter of intent to the US, which was aimed at improving bilateral relations, trade, and economic relations," Košarac said.

He explained that the proposed letter of intent stated that BiH expresses its interest in launching consultations and negotiations toward concluding a free trade agreement with the United States, i.e., to mutually regulate customs tariffs.

"The `Troika` has once again shown that it has no understanding of global political dynamics and that it blindly follows the EU's coordinates. The tactic of blocking important decisions in the BiH Presidency by Bećirović, as a representative of the `Troika,` is nothing new, and it has never led to anything good. Because of their amateurish policies, the business sectors in both Republika Srpska and the FBiH are suffering," Košarac said.

He also emphasized that we are aware of this fact, and that the harmful policies of the `Troika` toward the economic sectors of both Srpska and the FBiH are evident.

"We will continue exploring options to secure a better arrangement for businesses in Republika Srpska and the FBiH in foreign trade with the United States. We consider the U.S. a highly important and strategic partner, and we aim to elevate our cooperation to a more advanced and substantial level," Košarac said.

U.S. President Donald Trump has introduced 30 percent tariffs on all goods entering the United States from BiH, effective August 1.