President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, has stated that the Office of the Presidency has prepared a draft law that would enable the removal of the 10 percent customs tariff on goods imported from the United States. However, for the law to be approved, the new Parliament must first be constituted.
“We have the law ready, and we will propose it to the Assembly as soon as it is constituted. I have spoken with many MPs and I am confident that it will pass,” Osmani said in an interview with RTV 21.
On April 3, Osmani had requested that the Government suspend the 10% tariff on U.S. imports, one day after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a similar tariff on imports from Kosovo.
Trump’s decision included tariffs on most countries worldwide, with a base rate of 10%, and higher rates for countries with which the U.S. has a trade deficit.
However, acting Finance Minister Hekuran Murati criticized Osmani’s approach, saying that “fiscal policies fall under the scope of the executive” and should not be handled publicly through the media.
Murati’s statement prompted a strong reaction from Osmani’s media advisor, Bekim Kupina, who called the response “shameful and scandalous.”
Osmani said that this institutional disagreement had “greatly harmed the interests of the Republic of Kosovo.”
“That response caused significant damage to Kosovo, because Kosovo had a rare opportunity to strengthen its alliance with the U.S., at a time when it was essential for America to see who would be the first state to come forward with such a proposal. I was the first head of state to make such a proposal, and it was important that we be the first,” Osmani explained.
The 10% tariff on U.S. imports — which Kosovo applies to all countries with which it has no free trade agreement — remains in effect, even though Murati had stated that the Government had been considering lifting the tariff for a long time.
Meanwhile, Osmani confirmed she is working closely with the administration of President Donald Trump.
“There are a number of steps we have already taken that are currently under review by the Trump administration, and for now, I cannot make them public,” she added.
She also expressed hope that the new Kosovo Assembly would be constituted as soon as possible, noting the importance for the country.
“Kosovo has many urgent issues to address, and the Assembly is essential for this. So I remain hopeful that April 15 will be a successful day for all of Kosovo,” Osmani said.
The constitutive session of the Assembly is scheduled for tomorrow, where the ninth legislature, resulting from the February 9 elections, is expected to be formed. The PDK, which placed second in the elections, has announced it will not participate in the session.
