Vucic: Exports to China could save Serbian wine industry, gov't to help

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Tuesday nothing would save the Serbian wine industry unless it exported 15-30 mln bottles of wine a year to China, and added that the government would help wine exporters.

"Simply, we need to ensure the largest possible exports to China, and then the wine industry will be able to survive," Vucic said before a ceremony at which formal decisions on incentives were presented to producers of wine, beer and spirits.

China is the biggest opportunity for Serbian wine exporters due to Serbia's FTA with China, Vucic said.

"Three years ago, the tariffs on wines were 30 pct, this year - in 2026 - they are at 12 pct. So, they are declining. They will be 6 pct next year and zero in 2028, so we will have a major advantage over everyone else, due to the FTA with PR China," Vucic noted.

He said China was an ideal opportunity for Serbia but that the Chinese market was very demanding and difficult to break into.