SKOPJE (N. Macedonia), April 9 (SeeNews) – North Macedonia’s government plans to lower, or possibly eliminate, tariffs on U.S. imports in response to the recently announced 33% U.S. tariffs on its goods, the finance minister Gordana Dimitrievska-Kochoska said.
The tariffs could be lowered to zero, as the impact would be minimal given that trade with the U.S. makes up less than 1% of North Macedonia’s total trade, the finance minister told a press conference on Tuesday, streamed by the government on its YouTube channel.
The Skopje government is working on changes to the customs law to allow for tariff reductions and also plans to initiate the signing of a free trade agreement with the U.S., the finance minister noted.
She added that the U.S. decision to impose a 33% tariff is likely based on a mistake, as North Macedonia does not have a 65% tariff on U.S. goods, contrary to Washington’s claim.
The highest customs rate North Macedonia imposed on U.S. products last year was 15%, local TV station Kanal 5 reported last week, citing the customs administration.
North Macedonia exported 6.7 billion denars ($120.1 million/108.9 million euro) worth of goods to the U.S. in 2024, more than double compared with 3 billion denars a year earlier. Imports from the U.S. came in at 11.1 billion denars in 2024, down from 15.2 billion denars in 2023.
(1 euro = 61.55 denars)