LJAJIC: Protective measures of EU regarding import of steel from February 4, Serbia has option of revision

Serbia and other countries of the region, on which the EU's protective measures regarding the import of steel should start being implemented from February 4, are victims of the clash between China on one side and the USA and the EU on the other, but what's good is that the country has the option of revision, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade of Serbia Rasim Ljajic.

– We are the collateral damage in the battle between large forces – Ljajic told Tanjug.

– We have tried to secure a better position as we are in the process of joining the EU. We have tried to do this together with other countries in the region, counting of improving our position that way – the minister added.

He says that Serbia has been given an advantage in the form of the revision clause. In other words, a subsequent intervention is possible in theory.

Ljajic explains that a revision can be done after the results of the implementation of the measures in the country, in the first and the second quarters of the current year, are examined.

– We can do nothing else but wait – Ljajic adds.

President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker said in his response to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic's letter that the revision clause unequivocally “envisages the possibility of the correction of protective measures if they lead to harmful effects, such as jeopardizing the stability or the development of the economies of priority trade partners”.

Serbia has been promised that the new protective measures will not jeopardize its economic stability and development, as confirmed in technical talks in Brussels.

The measures pertain to all countries outside the EU, expect for some developing countries and the countries within the European Economic Area.

Ministarstvo turizma i omladine Republike Srbije

Rasim Ljajić

EU protective measures import of steel

import of steel

steel quotas

Jean Claude Juncker