Wednesday, 3 July 2013

IMPORT TARIFF OF AGRO AND FORESTRY BASED PRODUCTS TO BE LOWERED



The Director General of International Trading Cooperation, Ministry of Trade Imam Pambagyo stat­ed that the Indonesian Delegation was striving to pro­mote APEC trade and investment focused on growth with equity concept at the Committee on Trade and Investment/CTI held on February 3-4, 2013 at Ritz Carlton, Jakarta.

In a meeting with the objective of giving input to the APEC First Senior Officials Meeting/SOM 1 Indonesia proposed lowered tariff of some agro-based and forestry-based products especially Crude Palm Oil end Natural Rubber, by way of including them in APEC Environmental Goode List/Egs List agreed upon in APEC 2012.

Indonesia also forwarded a Concept Paper entitled “Promoting Green Growth and Practical Road to Inclusive Growth; Promoting Agro-based Goods”. Presented to CTI. This was an effort to pro­mote equal distribution of benefits of liberalized prod­ucts enlisted in APEC Egs List. To be implemented in 2013-2015. By this agreement, APEC members would lower impart tax of 54 EG products (tariff 6 digits) up to 0%-5% in 2015.

Indonesia was of opinion that liberalization tit CFPO and rubber in APEC would have their positive impact on environment, development and poverty elimination. The case was related to public interest, UKM and small farmers in the two business sectors.

Broadly speaking this meeting was an initial step for Indonesia in preparing an agenda and agreement in trading and investment in APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting/MRT) in Surabaya on 20-21 April 2013 and APEC Summit Meeting in Bali October 7-8, 2013.

At this meeting CTI also agreed on Indone­sia's proposition that APEC underscored support for the future of solution of Doha session and under­score WTO through APEC Leaders Stand Alone Declaration on Supporting the Conclusion of WTO DOHA Development Agenda. The Joint Statement was ex­pected to settle priortized issues of the Doha Meeting at the 9th WTO Ministrial Conference to be held in Bali on December 2-6, 2013. Indonesia believed in the importance of discussions of trade facilitation and development issues which were expected to have direct impact on increased trust for the market and businessworld in multilateral trading system.

The CTI session also agreed to Indonesia's proposition that APEC conduct a workshop to make in-depth study of important issues toward attainment of Bogor Goals in 2020. Through the Workshop entitled “Workshop with Aim et Attaining the Bogor Goals that ensures Equitable Benefits of Liberalization” it was expected that in the future APEC would emphasize more on equal distribution of growth and allow more freedom for developing nations to benefit from the liberalization process of trading and invest­ment in APEC.

In translating APEC priorities this year toward attainment of Bogor goals: sustainable growth with equity, and connectivity Indonesia as host would ac­tively set forth proposals which were contributive to the principles of growth and equity.

Other important topics discussed at the First CTI APEC was among others stepping up of capacity in the implementation regional economic integration, promoting of UKM role in the global chain and upgrad­ing of capacity of supporting industries.

According to agenda, the Jakarta CTI agreed on various other proposals set forth by other members of APEC in collaboration and capacity building of some prioritized programs such as support for multilateral/organizational trading system of the world (WTO), Attainment of Bogor Goals, Trade Liberalization and Investment, Regional Economic Integration, promoting regional connectivity, development of collaboration and synchronization of rules, and development strategy of APEC.



Business News - February 15,2013

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