A comprehensive free trade agreement between Serbia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which came into effect on June 1 this year, opens new opportunities for Serbian exporters and the domestic agro-industry, the Ministry of Agriculture announced. This agreement is one of the most significant foreign trade deals for Serbia in the past decade, allowing Serbian farmers and the food industry to export their products to one of the most lucrative and financially capable markets in the Middle East without paying customs duties.
Immediately duty-free exports include all live animals except pigs, fresh, chilled, and frozen meat, fish, powdered milk, fruits, vegetables, spices, grains, flour, animal feed, honey, coffee, teas, flowers, and many other products.
Within the next three years, customs duties will be removed on products such as smoked and dried beef, long-life milk, dairy products, nuts, as well as potatoes, beans, and onions.
Within five years, duty-free export will extend to products like frozen raspberries and strawberries, pears, cherries, cheese, chicken, eggs, honey, pasta, ketchup, and others.
At the same time, Serbia has secured protection for its most sensitive sectors and products from full liberalization. Protected items include frozen beef, sheep and chicken meat, domestically produced cheeses, table eggs, sugar, confectionery products, natural honey, and tobacco products.
Minister of Agriculture Dragan Glamočić emphasized that the agreement with the UAE is strategically important for Serbia as it enables export growth, attracts new investments, and strengthens economic cooperation while safeguarding domestic production interests.
He expressed optimism that the Serbian economy will fully utilize the new opportunities and soon benefit from this agreement.
