The Foreign Trade Chamber of Bosnia and Herzegovina (VTKBiH) is calling for government intervention after Serbia restricted imports of ribbed reinforcing steel, hot-rolled wire in coils, and ribbed reinforcing steel in bars. A new Serbian decree, active for six months until June 30, 2026, establishes a tariff quota system where imports exceeding these limits face a 50% customs duty.

VTKBiH argued that Serbia’s quotas rely on outdated historical data from the 2020-2024 period, which doesn’t reflect the real growth in regional trade. The Chamber said that in the first quarter of 2025 alone, Bosnia’s steel exports already surpassed the total quarterly volume now permitted under Serbia’s new 2026 regulations, which indicates that the new limits will be exhausted almost immediately, forcing exporters to pay the 50% tariffs.

Bosnian exporters now face severe border delays as Serbian customs implement new monitoring procedures. These hold-ups threaten long-term contracts and disrupt supply chains for construction and production.

Therefore, Bosnian officials are urged to challenge these measures through CEFTA structures to restore the duty-free flow of goods and prevent further financial damage to regional suppliers.