Trump's envoy urges Kosovo to drop taxes on Serbian goods

U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy for Kosovo and Serbia on Tuesday urged new Kosovo government to abolish punitive tariffs on Serbian goods that have blocked negotiations between two Balkan rivals.

Richard Grenell, who is U.S. ambassor to Germany, said that “we expect tariffs to be dropped immediately."

"We me clear to all (Kosovo) party leers that dropping tariffs was in best interest of Kosovo and its ecomy, and desire to attract new businesses,” he said in an emailed statement to Associated Press.

A European Union-mediated dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo over rmalizing ties stalled after previous Kosovo government imposed 100% taxes on Serbian goods in protest of Serbia's blocke of Kosovo in International Red Cross and or international organizations.

Kosovo's parliament on Monday voted in a new prime minister after nearly four months of talks between country's two main parties.

Albin Kurti, new premier, told parliament tariffs won't be dropped and that Kosovo will insist on "reciprocity" in its tre with Serbia. He gave furr details.

Grenell last month brokered tentative deals to resume railway and air links between two states that have been suspended for 21 years.

“We are making historic progress," Grenell said. “re are more anuncements coming soon because both sides are er to move forward. se moves will create a better life for people of region.”

Serbia's intervention against Kosovo's independence-seeking ethnic Albanians in 1998-99 prompted NATO to intervene and stop conflict.

Serbia and its allies Russia and China don't accept Kosovo's 2008 declaration of independence, although Serbia's former province has been recognized by about 100 countries, including U.S. and most EU nations.