Kosovo government further increases the tax on products from Serbia to 100%

The Kosovo government adopted a decision today, with a majority of votes, to increase the tax on imported goods from Serbia, which had already been increased by 10% earlier this week, to 100%, Kosovo media reported. The Minister of Trade and Industry, Endrit Shala proposed this new measure, which received the support of Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj, Kosovo media wrote, saying that the CEFTA agreement does not work. The Kosovo government is also announcing new measures. This measure was adopted just a day after Kosovo failed to enter INTERPOL for the fourth time.

„Serbia is continuing its aggressive campaign against Kosovo in the international arena. It is also undermining the process of normalization. In order to defend our vital interest, the Government of Kosovo decided today to increase the customs tax to 100%. We will soon announce further measures,“ the Deputy Prime Minister, Enver Hoxhaj tweeted.

On November 6^th, the Kosovo government adopted a decision to increase the tax on the import of products from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina by 10%. Kosovo officials cited the protection of the domestic market as the reason behind the adoption of this measure – which also represents „the best answer to Serbia’s destructive behavior“. The tax increase was largely reflected in the price of dairy products and building materials.

In the meantime, Endrit Shala also made a decision that the trade inspection should not allow the import and sale of products imported into Kosovo with the inscription „Kosovo and Metohija“, „Kosovo UNMIK“ or „Kosovo Resolution 1244“.Kosovo media reported today that market inspection started removing products containing these inscriptions from stores throughout Kosovo.

Trade War of 2011

Belgrade and Pristina led a trade war in 2011, following an agreement on integrated border crossings. Dissatisfied with the pace and direction of the negotiations on integrated crossings and customs seals, the Kosovo government sent special units of the Kosovo Police to the two crossings in the north of Kosovo, Jarinje and Brnjak, with the intention of introducing reciprocal measures to the trade embargo (formerly declared by Serbia because of the word „republic“ on the Kosovo customs seal). In declarative terms, the action was directed against illegal trade, designed to ensure the rule of law in this part of the territory and was not directed against the citizens of this part of Kosovo.