Croatia has found itself hit by the Donald Trump administration for the first time since Trump became US president again.
Due to the conflict between the US and the European Union over tariffs, Croatia’s entry into the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) has been temporarily suspended, reports say. Croatian media, the Telegraph reports.
The vote has been postponed and the Croatian government hopes that everything will go according to plan.
The OECD is an important association of developed countries that brings together 38 members, including major world economies such as the US, Germany, Japan and France.
According to local media, membership in this organization has been one of Croatia’s foreign policy priorities in recent years, because membership in this organization brings reputational and economic benefits – from strengthening investment attractiveness to participating in the creation of global economic rules.
However, the procedure for admitting new members requires the consensus of all existing member states.
This is precisely where the problem has arisen now – due to the trade war that the Trump administration has resumed with the European Union, the US has decided to block decisions in international organizations in which the EU has strong influence.
Behind all this lies a new wave of customs conflicts between Washington and Brussels, Croatian media emphasize.
Trump accuses the EU of imposing excessive tariffs on American products, while the EU announces countermeasures against American goods.
Since decisions in the OECD are made unanimously, the Trump administration is using the possibility of blocking as an instrument of pressure, Croatian media write.
Croatia was officially invited to OECD membership negotiations in January 2022 and has so far aligned most of its legislation and standards with the organization’s rules.
Entry was originally expected in 2025, but the question now is whether current global political conflicts will slow that plan. /Telegraph/