Q:
A:
Croatia violates SAA
Belgrade,
1 August 2017
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications Rasim Ljajic said today that Croatia, by introducing non-customs barriers for Serbian products, is drastically violating the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA).
Ljajic told Tanjug following the introduction of these barriers by Croatia when importing agricultural products from Serbia and other non-EU countries that our country will address the European Commission and ask for reconsideration of this decision.
He quoted Article 36, paragraph 1, which states that “from the date of entry into force of this Agreement, no new customs duties on imports or exports or charges having equivalent effect shall be introduced”.
At the same time, the Deputy Prime Minister also stated that, regarding Serbia's reaction to this decision of Croatia, some of the measures related to enhanced phytosanitary supervision are already being implemented.
Ljajic confirmed that the countries of the region, primarily Macedonia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, that are also affected by this Croatian measure, will be contacted in order to jointly appear before the European Commission to protect their economic interests.
The decision of Croatia is also a drastic violation of the rules and principles of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), which say that there should be no discrimination between domestic and imported products in terms of taxes, the Deputy Prime Minister pointed out.
He said that Serbia does not want any trade conflict with Croatia because it is not in the interests of any country.
He quoted Article 36, paragraph 1, which states that “from the date of entry into force of this Agreement, no new customs duties on imports or exports or charges having equivalent effect shall be introduced”.
At the same time, the Deputy Prime Minister also stated that, regarding Serbia's reaction to this decision of Croatia, some of the measures related to enhanced phytosanitary supervision are already being implemented.
Ljajic confirmed that the countries of the region, primarily Macedonia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, that are also affected by this Croatian measure, will be contacted in order to jointly appear before the European Commission to protect their economic interests.
The decision of Croatia is also a drastic violation of the rules and principles of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), which say that there should be no discrimination between domestic and imported products in terms of taxes, the Deputy Prime Minister pointed out.
He said that Serbia does not want any trade conflict with Croatia because it is not in the interests of any country.
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