Experts divided on Trump’s influence on Kosovo’s economic future

The 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump, who has returned to the White House, mediated the signing of an economic normalization agreement between Kosovo and Serbia on September 4, 2020, during his first term. It remains to be seen how his new term, which began on January 20 of this year, will impact Kosovo’s economic processes, CE Report quotes Kosova Press.

Economic experts in Kosovo have differing opinions regarding Trump's influence on Kosovo’s economy.

Economics professor Ilir Hajdini is optimistic that the 2020 agreement could be reactivated, though he notes that "the approach of the next government in Kosovo toward the U.S. will also play a role."

He believes that if Kosovo has a cooperative and well-argued government with professional individuals, it will be able to convince Trump’s administration officials to have a positive influence on Kosovo.

On the other hand, unlike Hajdini, economic analyst Emanuel Bajra is skeptical that the economic normalization agreement, signed in September 2020 by former Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić in the presence of then-U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House, can be revived.

Bajra also emphasized that the greatest risk for Kosovo in the coming period would be a scenario in which Serbia refuses to recognize Kosovo as a state. He added that potential economic effects in the region would largely stem from Trump’s potential decision to impose tariffs on other countries, such as Germany, France, and Italy.

Although he strongly opposed the 2020 agreement in the past, Prime Minister Albin Kurti told the Spanish newspaper El Mundo that the economic agreements between Kosovo and Serbia were "the approach of that time, under Trump’s first administration, to promote stability."

The agreement includes commitments by Kosovo and Serbia to build road and rail links connecting their capitals to improve the movement of goods and people, developments that could attract Western investments. Under the agreement, Kosovo is also obliged to join an initiative for passport-free movement and tariff-free trade, which includes Albania, Serbia, and North Macedonia.

Republican candidate Donald Trump was declared the 47th President of the United States, securing approximately 276 Electoral College votes.

In the November 5 election, the candidates were Democrat Kamala Harris, the current U.S. Vice President, and Republican Donald Trump, who previously served as president from 2017 to 2021.

Meanwhile, world leaders have congratulated Trump on his victory. In Kosovo, Trump was also congratulated by institutional and political leaders.