Dimitrieska Kochoska: We have a problem with only one company that directly depends on export to the United States and now we are solving that problem

Foreign Minister Timco Mucunski is in constant communication with the United States on the problem of customs and we expect to be resolved as soon as possible, although the direct effects of the introduction of US customs are not high when it comes to export and imports, Finance Minister Gordana Dimitrieska said today.

– We are preparing amendments to the Customs Law that we can go to reduce them even to zero because the effect will not be high at all, as the entire export last year was just over 100 million euros, which is very little compared to the exchange with the rest of the world. Any change in customs rates will have no impact on the budget,… We can offer the US at a moment. It is a mistake because even after individual tariffs when they look at the Republic of Macedonia there is no customs tariff of 65 percent, said Dimitrijska Kochoska in response to a journalist question at today’s press conference in the Government.

He emphasized that the aggravating circumstance is that we do not have a free trade agreement with the United States and added that it is working to sign such an agreement.

– I believe that in the end the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade will succeed in signing such an agreement with the signing of which we will have changes to the customs tariffs. If we fail to sign such an agreement, we will see what we will do next. We will initially offer a reduction in customs tariffs, Dimitrieska Kochoska said.

He pointed out that in the US calculation for the amount of our customs duties of 65 % there are certain accessories and added that it is normal for every state strives to protect its domestic production.

– There is a part where domestic production is wanted. It is primarily in the part of agricultural products, and in the part of other customs rates we do not have such high tariffs, said Dimitrijeska Kochoska.

He pointed out that with the United States we have a trade exchange below one percent of the total exchange we have with the world and in the area of ​​import and export.

– That is why there will be no direct effects. It is impossible in such a short to have direct negative effects on the introduction of American customs duties. Although they have increased customs duties and for European countries there is no substitute in the United States that will increase production overnight so that we can say we will buy from domestic producers. Let’s leave time to show what behavior will be, but let’s not forget that the private sector in Europe, as well as European states, will have bilateral talks with the United States. In the section, however, the capital movement of capital is very difficult to move from one place to another and to open capacities. It will take time to see what happens, but negative effects will not happen overnight, emphasized Dimitrijeska Kochoska.

He asked not to panic ahead of time and added that it does not mean that if anyone has a problem in Europe that he will immediately dismiss employees in the country working in foreign investors companies.

– They won’t do it because switching to capital is a very difficult task and a decision and it takes time for it. It is almost impossible in the short term. So let’s not raise panic that we will have a layoff. It won’t happen. In the meantime, I expect European countries to agree with the United States, and in the short term there will be less production and less exports than those countries will certainly have some effect, but it will not mean that there will be a layoff. In the country we have a problem only in one situation with a company that directly depends on exports to the United States and now we are solving that problem, said Dimitrijeska Kochoska, adding that they will not even lay off workers overnight.

He estimated that as a country that lacks labor at this point there is no greater risk that there will be firing workers and that they will not find work elsewhere, although, I believe, I think there will be no layoffs.