Countries in the region have protected their steel industry, but Bosnia and Herzegovina has refused to do so. Companies from our country in this industry sought this measure to continue their operations. This primarily refers to Nova ลฝeljezara from Zenica and Nova Ljubija from Prijedor.

These companies alone are directly and indirectly linked to over 500 firms, leading to 11,000 workers who are in some way connected to steel production and related industries.

The Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Government of the Republika Srpska, and the Government of the Brฤko District have given their opinions, as have the Foreign Trade Chamber of BiH, the Indirect Taxation Authority of BiH, and the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH. All of this was not enough for the Council of Ministers to pass a decision on a temporary ban on steel imports in two attempts, aimed at protecting domestic production.

The paradox is that no explanation was given for such moves; instead, everyone was satisfied that there simply was no political will. Votes against came primarily from ministers of the HDZ. Therefore, the question arises as to why state authorities would be against protecting a very important domestic industry that employs thousands of workers?

Those who oppose the temporary ban on steel imports are those engaged in such imports, namely transport companies. They would lose part of their revenue due to the ban, but with the consequences that will inevitably follow, the question arises: who will they import steel for if domestic production companies shut down their plants, as they have announced?

To add to the paradox, the management of Nova ลฝeljezara, for example, offered the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina an increase in ownership share and strengthening of state interest, but without any reaction.

The policy that opposed the temporary ban on steel imports certainly estimated that they would not be affected by the shutdown of production and loss of jobs, as they do not see their voter base in all of this.