Skopje, 1 August 2025 (MIA) - Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said Friday the reduced tariffs imposed by the United States is only the first stage and that negotiations are continuing.

"This is the first stage, this is not an agreement. Our rate has been reduced from 33 to 15 percent. Negotiations are continuing and we are currently seeing a break because of the annual summer leave of the U.S. administration and our institutions, and expect talks to continue in the second half of August," PM Mickoski told reporters.

He expects tariffs to drop even further and thanked the U.S. for the tariff cut.

"I am optimistic that rates will go down even more. For example, Serbia is seeing a tariff of 35 percent, Bosnia and Herzegovina - 30 percent, Switzerland - 39 percent. Macedonia is in the same group as Israel, Norway, EU and so on," noted Mickoski.

The new executive order puts tariffs between 10-50 percent on almost all U.S. trade partners.

The new tariffs will enter into force on August 7.

Photo: Screenshot