July 1 (SeeNews) - Serbia has suffered a 228 million euro ($258.21 million) damage so far from the increase of Kosovo's import tariffs on all goods produced in Serbia and Bosnia, Serbia's trade minister Rasim Ljajic said on Monday.
For Serbia, the daily damage from the increased tariffs stands at 1.1 million euro, Ljajic said in a video file posted on the YouTube channel of private TV channel Pink.
A total of 150 shops in majority Serb-populated northern Kosovo will remain closed on Monday in protest against the tariffs introduced by the government in Pristina, Ljajic added.
On November 21, Kosovo's government decided to increase the import tariffs on all goods produced in Serbia and Bosnia to 100% from 10% set earlier that month in order to protect Kosovo's sovereignty and interests. The scope of the tax was expanded on December 29 to include products manufactured under international brands in the two neighbouring countries.
Kosovo, considered to be a potential candidate for EU membership by the European Commission, unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in 2008 and has so far been recognised by more than half of the 193 UN member states. Serbia and Bosnia both do not recognise the independence of Kosovo.
($ = 0.883122 euro)