Lazarevic: Postponement of start date of US tariffs gives additional space for talks

BELGRADE - Serbian Minister of Internal and External Trade Jagoda Lazarevic said on Tuesday the postponement of the start date of US import tariffs until August 1 gave Serbia additional space to continue talks and conduct other activities to address that issue.

Speaking to Tanjug, Lazarevic said the objective was to reach an agreement that would be good for Serbia and Serbia-US economic cooperation.

US President Donald Trump has announced that 14 countries, including Serbia, would face new import tariffs from August 1 unless trade deals were made.

If Belgrade and Washington fail to reach an agreement, the tariffs on Serbian goods and services will amount to 35 pct.

Lazarevic said Trump's message regarding the import tariffs was "clear and unequivocal" and that the US was seeking to make as many trade arrangements as possible to secure better access for its goods.