CCIS and the Government in Action: Support for Exporters to the U.S.

In response to the United States’ decision to introduce new tariffs on imports into the country, an urgent meeting was held today at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (CCIS) with representatives of Serbian companies exporting to the U.S. market. All relevant and up-to-date information of importance to domestic companies was presented at the meeting. The government's swift action to initiate negotiations with the U.S. administration was welcomed, and a number of proposed measures aimed at providing direct and immediate support to domestic producers affected by the new tariffs were discussed.

At the meeting, which brought together companies from various sectors, including the rubber, metal, agriculture, defense, and automotive industries, it was stated that the complete and necessary documentation from the U.S. regarding the new tariffs is expected to arrive by April 9.

Mihailo Vesović, Deputy President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, emphasized the importance of businesses working closely with both the CCIS and the government to ensure the best possible conditions are negotiated for Serbian companies.

"This requires urgent commencement of trade negotiations. We are aware that there is a long queue in Washington, but we must position ourselves as one of the first countries to secure more favorable conditions—at the very least those that would place us on equal footing with countries in the region and the EU," Vesović highlighted.

In addition, he noted that, given some companies are already experiencing direct losses, immediate support should be considered. This could take the form of favorable credit lines or more advantageous export financing—topics that will be explored in the coming days.

Jagoda Lazarević, Assistant Minister for Economic Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that daily communication is ongoing with U.S. representatives. She added that a high-level Serbian delegation is expected to visit the U.S. soon, where the issue of new tariffs will be one of the main topics on the table.

Dragan Kršanin, Director of the Pančevo-based company “Tehnomarket,” which has been exporting to the U.S. market for years, said that swift action from the relevant institutions is crucial, especially for companies like his, which sends one-third of its exports to the U.S.

“We see a potential solution in CCIS and the government stepping into the negotiations to bring tariffs down to a reasonable level. We’re not expecting a completely duty-free regime, but the current situation is effectively removing us from the U.S. market,” Kršanin stated.

This view was echoed by Sanja Stanimirović, General Director of “Testeral” from Jagodina, who believes the government responded quickly and that entering into negotiations with the American side as soon as possible is now key.

“What’s most important now is to respond swiftly and engage in negotiations, trying to reach some solutions through diplomatic and economic diplomacy channels,” emphasized Stanimirović, whose company is 90% export-oriented, with 70% of its exports going to the U.S. market.

She suggested that companies with long-term contracts with U.S. partners should be granted certain benefits, which, as she explained, would not only help the individual businesses affected by the tariffs but also preserve jobs.