Official Belgrade has decided not to start arbitration proceedings against Pristina over the 100 percent tariffs imposed on Serbian goods but will introduce counter-measures, Belgrade daily Vecernje Novosti reported on Thursday.

The decision not to launch arbitration proceedings was taken because UNMIK, which signed the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) on behalf of Kosovo, has declared that it does not have jurisdiction over the issue, the newspaper said.  

“Given that situation, the only thing remaining for Belgrade to do is to sue the so-called Republic of Kosovo but the naming of Kosovo as a legal entity in international law at the initiative of our side could undoubtedly be interpreted as regognition of its “statehood” and the arbitration option was rejected,” an unnamed source told the daily.  

Vecernje Novosti said could decide to stop every truck from Kosovo heading towards the European Union but that would bring the risk of violating the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU. It added that a future strategy to counter the tariffs could be discussed by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and representatives of the Kosovo Serbs at a meeting on Friday.