SARAJEVO, June 13 (Xinhua) -- The Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) decided on Friday to launch bilateral economic and trade consultations with the United States, in response to recent U.S. tariff measures.
The initiative, introduced by Presidency member Denis Becirovic during an extraordinary session, calls for a flexible government-to-government (G2G) cooperation model, given the current improbability of formal free trade negotiations.
The Council of Ministers has been tasked with submitting a letter of intent to the U.S. trade representative within 10 days and taking steps toward a potential G2G agreement. The proposal aims to remove non-tariff barriers, enhance institutional ties, and strengthen investment frameworks, in line with existing international obligations, particularly those with the European Union (EU).
The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations will analyze the U.S. policy's impact on BiH's external trade. No measures will be enacted before the analysis is complete.
Officials underscored the strategic importance of the U.S. partnership for BiH's political and economic future. Economic analyst Igor Gavran criticized the U.S. tariff policy as "economic bullying," warning of long-term repercussions for BiH manufacturers linked to EU supply chains, especially in the automotive sector.
