List of products that Serbia and China will trade duty-free

On the day when the Free Trade Agreement with China enters into force, we will export duty-free fresh fruit, meat and vegetable products, jams, beer, and water to China. These products make up 60 percent of the list of domestic agricultural and food products that Serbia applied for the abolition of customs duties.

Among other things, this group includes oilseeds, beer, mineral water.

 For 16 percent of the products on the customs list, tariffs will be reduced for the next five years until they are completely abolished. On it are fresh and dried vegetables, from fruits - pears and grapes, then chewing gum, fruit juice, ketchup, and some confectionery products. The country is perhaps expecting the biggest boost in wine exports.

 Minister of Agriculture Jelena Tanasković says that Tobit will be significant for our economy, economy and new jobs.

 In two decades, the export of Serbian wine to China increased from 80 to 380.000 liters. We sell them mostly good quality wine for around seven euros per bottle. Experts say they are ready to pay even more.

Investments from domestic and foreign investors are expected

 Prof. Dr. Darko Jakšić from the Institute for the Application of Science in Agriculture for RTS indicates that the advantage lies in the fact that the EU does not have such an agreement with China.

 "So that we can expect investments from domestic, as well as investors from the European Union - that with the help of this agreement, the area under vineyards will increase, but also that new wineries will be founded, of which there are more and more, almost 500 at the moment", points out Jakšić.

 The Chamber of Commerce also expects that the agreement could bring new investors who would add value to Serbia's export list, which is currently mostly raw materials. By the way, a Serbian product is considered one that is made from at least 51 percent of domestic raw materials.

 "First of all, these are fresh fruits and vegetables, a certain amount of meat, which is a significant incentive for the restoration of livestock funds, which have decreased significantly in the last 10 years," says Bojan Stanić from the Serbian Chamber of Commerce.

Among the industrial products from Serbia, iron and steel products, central heating boilers, fuel pumps, hydraulic turbines, white goods, seats, wood, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products, cleaning products, plastic products, mineral fertilizers, textiles.

 This also applies to pharmaceutical and cosmetic products, cleaning agents, mineral fertilizers, plastic products, firewood, fabrics.

 In the next five years, Chinese customs duties on Serbian cables in the auto industry, auto tires, ceramic tiles, air conditioners, freezers, heat pumps, and forklifts will be abolished.

 "Here there is a significant chance to attract a part of European partners who would see us as a gateway, a center of penetration to the east." It can be construction, agriculture, IT components," notes Assoc. Dr. Veljko Mijušković from the Faculty of Economics in Belgrade.

After the agreement enters into force, the Chinese will export to us live animals, palm oil, rice, shiitake mushrooms, kale, asparagus, eggplant, coconuts, bananas, pineapples and avocados duty-free. 

 Cabbage, soy flour, vegetable mixtures will await liberalization.

ZS/RTS