EU ministers have been asked to approve a trade deal negotiated by the European Commission and Albania, which would liberalise sales of various leathers and hides. It says Albanian duties on many EU leather supplies would be removed upon the deal’s mutual ratification. These include various bovine, lamb, sheep, and goat hides and skins, ranging from fresh, wet salted and dried to preserved products, along with a variety of furskins, including fox, mink and others.

Albanian duties on many leather shoes would be phased-out over five years. The deal also advises on assessing whether raw hides, tanned hides and skins, and leather supplies should be officially considered made in Albania or the EU.