Skopje, 18 February 2026 (MIA) - The joint statement and the Framework for an Agreement on Reciprocal, Fair, and Balanced Trade with the United States is a strong message that Macedonia is a key U.S. partner in the region, said Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski on Wednesday asked what the potential agreement would mean for Macedonian trade.

“The agreement that we will potentially sign with the U.S. with the parameters contained in the joint statement will enable Macedonian companies, i.e., products from Macedonia between customs numbers 62 and 64, to be exported to the U.S. market under preferential tariffs from 0 to 6.5 percent,” Mickoski said.

The Prime Minister said the bilateral trade in 2025 exceeded half a billion dollars, noting that the country has a mild surplus since it exports more than it imports from the U.S. Mickoski said he expects the agreement to boost bilateral cooperation and trade.

“But, I will reiterate, the agreement itself is the only one outside the European Union, with tariffs similar to those for the EU and the United Kingdom. But it is a strong message and the statement by the U.S. trade representative, who is at the level of secretary, Mr. Greer, that they are a sending a message that Macedonia is a key partner in the region, means a lot, both for investors and the economic situation in the country,” Mickoski stressed. 

The Prime Minister stressed that the Government also reached an agreement on strategic friendship with the United Kingdom.

“The opposition came out with false statements that we would accept migrants in exchange for money, and this went on for months. But the UK Ambassador showed up, gave an interview and dismissed their claims. However, the agreement on strategic friendship is not just an agreement, it is a message and we can see the effects of that message in our economy as well, even in the conditions for the Eurobond that was issued,” Mickoski said.

Mickoski also highlighted the fact that the country was the first in the region to have a fully aligned common foreign and security policy with the European Union.

“The third important diplomatic issue that placed us among the functional and mature democracies with the rule of law, with respect for human rights, is the closing of the post-monitoring dialogue with the Council of Europe and we are the only country in the region who has achieved that,” the Prime Minister added in answer to journalists’ questions after a conference in Skopje on formalizing the informal economy.

Photo: MIA