Kosovo government passed a decision on Wednesday raising import tariffs for Bosnian and Serbian products from 10 to 100 percent, Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj said. The decision, which violates CEFTA free trade rules, represents an escalation in Pristina's response to what it says is Belgrade's diplomatic offensive against it.

The tariffs were adopted at the proposal of Kosovo Trade Minister Endrit Shala, with the aim to strengthen domestic production, statehood and economy of Kosovo, the decision said.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Haradinaj said the new measures referred to all products from Bosnia and Serbia except the international brands based in these countries.

“Also, the state government obliges the Ministry of Trade and Industry as well as all other relevant institutions to stop the import and potential access to the market for all products that are not mentioned and are contrary to the official and constitutional label of the Republic of Kosovo. The decision is effective immediately,” Haradinaj wrote on his Facebook profile.

Earlier this month, Pristina had introduced 10 percent import tariffs for goods from Serbia and Bosnia, in response to what Kosovo government said was Serbia’s “destructive behaviour”.

Although the Kosovo government did not explicitly explain the move, it is thought that the decision came in response to Belgrade’s diplomacy offensive to pressure countries into rescinding their recognition of Kosovo’s unilaterally declared 2008 independence from Serbia.

This triggered a series of reactions by Serbian and Bosnian officials, who condemned the decision.

The Wednesday decision came only a day after Kosovo’s bid to join Interpol was rejected at the international police organisation’s summit in Dubai. Pristina called the decision disappointing and attributed the failure of their bid to Serbia’s lobbying against it.

Follow N1 via mobile apps for Android | iPhone/iPad | Windows| and social media on Twitter | Facebook.